Review | The Cat and The Canary at Minerva Theatre, Chichester: "Does this adaptation work? Yes and no..."

If you are a fan of John Willard’s 1922 stage-play, please go in with your eyes open. This is not that play, but an adaptation. We are no longer in the Deep South of the United States, but somewhere on the moors in Devon. The characters, of course, are shaped to the changed environment.

Does the adaptation work?

Well – yes and no. Let’s start with the yes.

The cast are simply phenomenal. The buzz that comes off each and every one of them, from beginning to end, is astonishing and particular mention must go to Nick Haverson (playing four roles at breakneck speed and with the accuracy of a marksman in his characterisation). Not one of them, though, drops the baton, with excellent work, too, from Will Merrick as Charlie, Calum Finlay as Paul and Hayley Carmichael as Mrs Pleasant.

The set is clever and the cast work it wonderfully.

Now I cannot deny that the audience on Press Night seemed to enjoy themselves, but the production overall left me feeling somewhat empty. I left the theatre without that Chichester Glow that seems, inevitably, to follow a visit there. What didn’t sit right for me?

Sadly – quite a lot. I was at a loss (as was my companion) to explain the significance of the Little Red Riding Hood/Regan MacNeil puppet that popped up from time-to-time. Maintaining the Exorcist theme, there was a good deal more projectile vomiting going on than seemed either necessary or likely. Likewise, character eccentricities that went without explanation or justification (the sudden adopting of Scottish accents in a scene, for instance) and – at one point – the almost explosive entrance of a character from a secret passage that nobody else on stage seemed to query or comment on.

These all achieved the result of instant laughter, certainly, but post-show consideration did leave me wondering… well… why?

This one seems to be about instant gratification rather than longer-term enjoyment.

As the old school report used to say – A for effort; C minus for attainment.

Until October 26.