Something Wicked This Way Comes

Published Monday 6 October 2008 at 11:15 by Peter Cargill

Halloween comes early with Ray Bradbury’s tale of the macabre, based on his book of the same name.

Here is a piece that is full of atmosphere, with most of the plaudits going to the lighting, designed by Paul Sorley, and the music, played by composer and pianist David Paul Jones with help from cellist Robin Mason.

It is an eerie tale of the value of friendship and goodness over evil, as a mysterious carnival comes to a Midwest town, its horrific hall of mirrors and nightmarish carousel capable of advancing or reversing time.

It is here that Karen Tennant’s designs take on a life of their own, with the clever use of projections, lighting and aerial acrobatics - although the technician at the side of the stage is rather distracting.

Patrick Mulvey (Jim) and Michael Gray (Will) run around at full tilt, as befits a couple of 14-year-old friends born one minute either side of midnight on Halloween.

Their contrasting characterisations are played off each other to good effect, as they fight the forces of Mr Dark (a delightfully-evil performance by Andrew Clark).

Graham Kent is Will’s father and reacts well as he struggles to protect the boys despite the lure of “being young again”.

Jennifer Paterson makes her mark as “the most beautiful woman in the world”, and yet also manages to fly around - literally - as the dust witch.

The story, especially in the first act, tends to get lost in the desire to create atmosphere. But even if this is a children’s show, it’s one that adults shouldn’t miss.