In an era when the word “gaslighting” has taken on renewed resonance, it makes sense to revisit the original play, “Gaslight,” which premiered in London in 1938. The Globe has taken that plunge with mixed results.
The play is set in 1901 London, in the Manningham’s sitting room, where Bella Manningham (Brittany Bellizeare) is routinely distraught. She misplaces things, hears things, perhaps imagines things. She’s anxious, fearful and wondering if she’s losing her mind.
Her doting husband, Jack (Travis Van Winkle) tries to calm the waters, at times, but is growing increasingly frustrated with his bride’s behavior. The household also has two servants: Elizabeth (Maggie Carney), who is old and experienced, and Nancy (Kennedy Tolson), who is young and sassy.
The show wants to be a mystery – what’s happening with Bella? Is she seeing/hearing things or is something nefarious going on? – but there’s nothing really mysterious about it. Jack is so intensely cloying, it feels like another shoe could drop at any moment. Jack’s behavior could be chalked up to 19th century social mores, but it seems like he has guilty knowledge.
Carney is delightful as the knowledgeable and occasionally sharp-tongued servant. Elizabeth is the most ambiguous character in the production – does she not hear the mysterious noises because she’s deaf or because she’s in on it?
To some degree, “Deceived” is like rewatching a police procedural. Yes, you know what’s going to happen, but it’s kind of interesting to watch the events unfold.
