REVIEW: Saint Maud at Newcastle Live Theatre

Saint Maud

Newcastle Live Theatre

Until Saturday 2 November 2024

As Halloween approaches, a psychological horror play is entertaining crowds at the Quayside venue. Using stage trickery and sound effects, the tale is based upon the critically acclaimed 2019 movie - though the action has now moved to the North East.

Central to the cast is Brogan Gilbert as the eponymous Maud. Brogan is a fine product of the Live Theatre youth system and she can command the stage, even when her character is apparently struggling with life.

Maud is a nurse whose faith runs parallel to her desire to serve as a nurse. She has become an agency palliative care nurse looking after Amanda, who is in the final stages of her terminal cancer. Dani Arlington ensures that her Amanda comes across as a strong willed character from the very first exchanges with her new nurse. Dying she may be but she is no wall flower and expects to be given dignity and respect. The former dancer is fully aware of her diagnosis but her attitude remains resolute. In Jessica Andrews script the pair do not exactly hit it off as there are clashes in values.

A note here on the script - whilst some theatre Halloween shows are family friendly, this most definitely is not one of those, as Amanda lets her feelings known using the strongest of language.

Matters become more complicated for Maud as Amanda's lover Carol (Neshla Caplan) keeps paying a visit and sticking her oar in. Clearly everyone on stage has a past, though the best way to present that exposition in a film is different to the best way to keep a live theatre audience watching a play on a single set. Director Jack McNamara has a challenge to maintain interest in this plot, to those who are not familiar with the film, whilst maintaining pace and audience interest in the characters.

It is clear that matters will come to one of the climaxes during the birthday party that Amanda is organising. The show continues past this point to look at the consequences for all involved.

Gazelle Twin - Photo: Teri Varhol 

A major component to this production, and one in which Brogan Gilbert is able to respond to, is the music and sound design. Elizabeth Bernholz aka Gazelle Twin is responsible for the music - which gets quite industrial by the time Maud hits the pub/club and starts dancing. Through Matthew Tuckey's sound design the pulsating rhythms give a sense of flow missing during some of the stark, classic horror, sound effects. Drummond Orr's lighting design has to help facilitate some of the jump scares around Alison Ashton's set. Getting the action and the effects to combine in a timely fashion helps pull off the desired effect on the audience. We were sat in line with the middle corner and this gave us a good view of the action.

Running for 80 minutes without an interval does help maintain tension. Ultimately, this is a brave attempt to transfer a successful horror movie to a different format. In trying to make it jumpy, the effects may have detracted away from the stage craft of the fine cast, and in particular Brogan Gilbert. Having said that, there was plenty of positive audience reaction from the Saturday Matinee audience that were in attendance with us.

Review: Stephen Oliver

Photos: Von Fox

Tickets:

Saint Maud runs from Thursday 10 October to Saturday 2 November at Live Theatre. Find out more and book at: www.live.org.uk  or call Box Office on 0191 2321232.