Wuthering Heights -Review. Hull Truck Theatre October 7th -23rd

Gaynor Faye & Rupert Hill  Karl Andre Photography

Glimpses into the past can be fascinating and Jane Thornton’s adaptation of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights directed by John Godber at the Hull Truck Theatre, provides a faithful energetic view of this historic novel. This play is full of the drama and the despair of the lives and loves of Cathy and Heathcliff. The opening scene sets the tone and evokes the brutality of the times. The less than perfect lives are spewed out with a loathing which brings a chill to the audience. The scene is compelling and abrupt and does not put the audience at ease.
 Love stories have intimacy, tenderness and caring; Cathy and Heathcliffe lacked any of these. Perhaps this is because it is such a big story in the Novel where Heathcliffe and Cathy’s emotional humanness could be empathised with. This was lost perhaps in the narrative shortness of the play. Most of my feelings went towards the people who were used by them. Poor Edgar Linton used by Cathy to provide the lifestyle she sought and even worse their children forced into marriage to perpetuate Heathcliffe’s unrequited love
The story is hurtled along with powerful narrative delivered by each of the characters. This gives an interesting interplay to the roles of each character. From the outset Cathy hissed her life story then slipped into the present and each character followed a similar path. The constant setting of the timeline took a little getting used to; by halfway through the first half I let the chapters unfold.

Gaynor Faye & Rupert Hill  Karl Andre Photography

I am sure that Stuart Wade revelled in the darkness of the characters he played because he performed them so well. Stuart played a convincing Hindley turned by the tragic events in his life. Continuing this tragic theme is Heathcliffe, played by Rupert Hill- yes he did look and act broody and it must be every girls dream to be wanted by him -good casting.  Cathy what were you thinking letting him go? I really empathised with your torture. Gayner Faye took the part of Cathy voice, body and soul although she did lose the Yorkshire accent as the play progressed. Poor Edgar played by Frazer Hammill who gave a heart rending performance when he lost his love. The desperation in his voice and expression made him the character I felt compassion for most of all.  Fiona Wass moved through the different characters as Francis, Nelly and Isabella. These were cleverly done through body language and a headscarf. I particularly enjoyed her portrayal of an indulgent new wife. I applaud all the actors for their team work the play had a lot of dialogue and quick changes which they pulled off.
Seamlessly the plot developed; constraints of passing time were cleverly managed through dialogue under the direction of John Godber. Each actor moved effortlessly synchronised from moment to moment switching between each scene, which unfolded like the closing and opening of chapters in a book.
Graham Kirks clever use of lighting and scenery also allowed the play to continue without any halts for changing scenery. It was a pleasure to see the moorland backdrop so much that I didn’t want to go indoors. The lighting and set design by Pip Leckenby from the opening scene, which was chilling, and throughout the play enhanced and evoked moodiness. Appropriate music and sound also created changing moods and ambience throughout the performance. Each and every word was clear even the amusing creak of the door vocals provided by Stuart Wade.
Be prepared for narrative story telling with sudden dramatic bursts of action. Good play- go see it

Eve Winterburn
YGG

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