THEATR Clwyd's 'Rope' is a dangerously chilling murder mystery exploring a motiveless crime in a 1920s setting.
And as you take your seat, your eyes are immediately drawn to the isolated chest at centre stage, with its contents only known to the audience as guests arrive for a charming evening of cocktails.
The play begins in dim lighting and the hushed yet panicked whispers of undergraduates Charles Granillo and Wydham Brandon, played by Chirag Benedict Lobo and Jack Hammett, who have just placed the body of a 20-year-old inside a chest, moments before guests are expected to arrive to a social gathering in that very same room.
Despite the seriousness of their actions, the light-hearted and rather comedic nature of using the chest as a serving table at the party only adds to the tension.
Of course, this is only heightened as the guests conversations become riddled with innuendos that the pair have in fact killed someone and hidden their body inside the chest. Naturally, Granillo and Brandon go along with it, an obvious arrogance calling their bluff.
The undergraduate pair could not have been more opposite. Brandon oozes calmness, confidently enjoying the evening after committing the 'perfect crime.' Granillo, however, sets the audience on edge with nervous antics and outbursts of anxiety in fear of being caught. Both performances were faultless.
Their dynamic is wonderful to watch, and encourages us as the audience to be reminded of our own morals. How would we truly react under pressure after committing an unforgivable crime?
Their trusty butler, Sabot, is the first to arrive following the murder. He prepares the chest by laying cocktail glasses and dusting the period furniture in preparation for the party. Felipe Pacheco's performance is witty, mostly in a physical sense. His mannerisms are a constant source of laughter throughout, adding comedic value even in the most dire of moments.
Neither Granillo or Brandon shy away from their intelligence and life experience as they welcome their guests. An older couple, Sir Johnstone Kently and Mrs Debenham, who share half a dozen brain cells. Leila, played by Emily Burnett, a beautifully-charming presence, full-of-life and unfortunately curious.
Then there's Raglan, an all too-familiar character at most dinner parties. Boastful yet timid, harmless in the face of danger. Again, providing the light-hearted moments with his endless innocence and attempts to impress Leila. Actor Rhys Warrington is certainly one to watch.
Each actor has their moment to shine a light on their character, though their time on stage is limited. I thought they were all likable in their own way, and found my eyes wandering between them when the scene wasn't theirs.
The final guest, a war-damaged Mr Rupert Cadell, played by the sensational Tim Pritchett, carries the weight of his despair on his shoulders as he requests one drink after another.
I thought that Tim's performance carried the show, challenging anything that is said by another guest. His self-awareness grounds us all through his many philosophical debates with the others. Not to mention his superb delivery. The moments he is alone in the room with the chest had me on the very edge of my seat.
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Written by Patrick Hamilton, Rope is incredibly enjoyable from start to finish. A thought-provoking production disguising a serious matter with satire. Performed in real time, I thoroughly enjoyed the time-lapsed moments with the characters showing the passing of the hour.
Despite the ruling-class arrogance and male impunity being written in the 1920s, the play speaks just as clearly in the 2020s. And of course, the play was inspired by the true crime case of Loeb and Leopold in Chicago, 1924.
Rope is truly a classic Hitchcock thriller, the opposite of an Agatha Christie 'Who dun it' murder mystery, but equally suspenseful in its own right.
A huge round of applause for director Francesca Goodridge for her unforgivably brilliant adaptation of this classic. A must-watch for all.
See it at Theatr Clwyd from July 2-20.
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