The Widow

The Widow follows the template of how to tell a ghost story. Remote setting: check. Creepy servants: check. Family curse: check. Beautiful young Catherine (Lara Lemon) is lured to a haunted mansion under false pretences and the other inhabitants have a high old time deceiving the poor girl. Lara handles the role of ingénue without having to play it dumb and we are genuinely concerned for her. As the sinister housekeeper, Anita Graham would give Du Maurier’s Mrs Danvers the creeps. There are some real shocks and surprises within this old-fashioned spook story, told in a modern way.

Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne, 26 July 2014
Rating:
Martin Baron