The Moors

In this weird and twisted little queer-safe story, two sisters live in a cold and rotting house in 1800s Yorkshire, in total, complete and utter isolation. Oh, except for an indeterminant number of servant (one? Two? Three?), an indeterminant number of brothers (none? One? One, but dead?) and one morose and despairing mastiff. Obviously, they don’t really count. Then one day, new meat arrives in the form of one hapless governess and one very sweet anthropomorphic moorhen.

Jen Silverman’s The Moors is simultaneously an affectionate and wicked parody of gothic literature. Afficionados of 19^th century English literature will delight at the references as they fly past. Not only is there the life of the Brontes and Wuthering Heights (both the novel and Kate Bush’s song), but also nods to Mary Shelley, Poe, Nick Cave, Jane Austen and Hammer Horror movies – and probably more.

This production is a lot of fun with some very surprising twists. Some opportunities for humour were sacrificed in favour of naturalistic but accurate characterization, particularly with the character of the sister Agatha. Agatha is a pragmatic, stern, domineering character who has channeled her boredom into the most evil manipulation. Andrea Close’s Agatha is a terrifying and absolutely believable character, which tilts the play towards the surreal rather than to play up a satirical villain cliché. In contrast, Rachel Howard relishes playing up the gullible, vain and fame-craving sister Huldey. Steph Roberts as the servant Marjory has a delicious touch of Helena Bonham Carter about her. Sarah Nathan-Truesdale plays governess Emilie as an optimistic romantic, and absolutely no match for Agatha’s manipulations.

Meanwhile, the cross-plot featuring Chris Zuber as the overwrought, despairing and pathetically masculine mastiff, and Petronella van Tienen as his unlikely moorhen love interest, are a hilarious reference to Heathcliff and Cathy. Petronella van Tienan as the moorhen is the embodiment of innocent adorability.

Joel Horwood’s The Moors is hilarious, intelligent, beautifully cast and acted and full of surprises. Fans of literature and all things gothic will love it

Cathy Bannister

Photographer: Dan Abroguena