The Bloody Chamber

The Bloody Chamber is Angela Carter’s retelling, in gothic horror dress, of the grim tale of Bluebeard. In this incarnation, with performance text by Malthouse Theatre’s Associate Artist (Literary) Van Badham, the story is narrated in first person by Alison Whyte, who plays the latest in a long line of doomed brides.

For most of the almost 90 minute long performance, Whyte is alone on stage, enthralling the audience with Badham’s elegant, poetic monologues, which she masterfully delivers using all her considerable skills. This is a spoken-word-driven performance – and we are swept up in the dark tale, as Whyte leads us with a chilling inevitability inside the bloody chamber of the title, to discover its secrets.

The only other performer to share the stage, and that for several brief spells, is Shelly Lauman playing the blind piano tuner whom we assume will be our heroine’s salvation. However the tale has a twist which I won’t presume to spoil.

We don’t get to meet the villain of the piece – our heroine’s husband – in person, but we do hear his voice, courtesy again of Ms Whyte, and this should be enough to send a few chills up the spine.

The set design perfectly complements the sombre mood of the piece, as does the eerie and expertly composed musical accompaniment, performed by three onstage musicians.

The opening night performance’s pacing did seem perhaps a little fast – it would have been nice to have had a little more time to take it all in, and revel in the atmosphere created by the gruesome revelations. But all in all, it’s an enjoyably evocative interpretation of one of Ms Carter’s better-known works.

Alex Paige

Images: Alison Whyte. Photographer: Jeff Busby