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Reviews: Rebecca - breathlessly tense
Robert Beale25/11/2005
THE road to Manderley (or "Mandalay", as most of last night's
cast said it) could never be presented on stage, of course.
That last-page drive, ending with just a glow in the distance and
the smell of ash, is replaced by flames and smoke in the play seen
at The Lowry.
It symbolises the spirit of Frank McGuinness's adaptation: subtlety
and atmosphere are not its strengths, vital though they are in
Daphne du Maurier's novel.
There's not much of Cornwall in the staging, directed by Patrick
Mason (design by Robert Jones), except for film of genuine Fowey
breakers at the start, though Conor Linehan's music tries to
compensate.
As a thriller, though, it maintains its tension almost
breathlessly.
It has some convincing performances.
Nigel Havers is brooding Max (though prone to unexpectedly petulant
rage).
Amanda Waldy is jolly, warm-hearted Beatrice and John Nicholas is
faithful retainer Frith.
Elisabeth Dermot-Walsh (the second Mrs De Winter) catches the two
extremes of her character, though the switch comes abruptly.
I found Maureen Beattie's Mrs Danvers too close to Mrs Thatcher to
be frightening, though.
And it's a pity cast doubling changed Dr Baker into a woman.
Rebecca is on at The Lowry until Saturday.
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