Beautifully haunting and a visual feast, Melbourne Theatre Company’s production of 'Rebecca' is a captivating reminder of the all-consuming nature theatre can have. This clever production pulls the audience in, gently inviting them into a world where not all is as it first seems.
We first meet a woman – a character whose name is never revealed, at a point in time where she seems to know more than she ever wishes she did. The woman, played by a hypnotising Nikki Shiels, enters a relatively bare stage, inviting us to come with her to a time in the past. As the audience follows, lightness washes over us, with subtle lighting and audio cues seamlessly carrying us along. The set design plays a key role in evoking the mood needed to convey the tale of 'Rebecca'. Marg Horwell, set and costume designer for the production has done an incredible job in creating a set which acts almost as a character itself in the show. As the story unfolds, the set grows with depth and complexity, cuing a feeling of overwhelm that strikingly reflects the story being told.
At the beginning, we have a bright-eyed and hopeful woman, looking ahead at a life that is yet to be known. The pared back set and simple costumes reflect the simple nature of the start of this tale. The woman meets Maxim (played with focused intensity by Stephen Phillips). They fall in love. He whisks her off to his sprawling estate, Manderley. Soon, carefully, and subtly, tension begins to build. Clever directing from Anne Louise Sparks allows for moments of hammy comic relief early on, enabling the audience to ease into the inevitable heavy tension awaiting a tale which moves around topics of infidelity, domestic intrigue, and the power that wealth can bring.
Pamela Rabe delivers a stand-out performance, switching between three roles, most notably the domineering housekeeper for Manderley, Mrs Danvers. Bringing an energy that is both intense and chilling, Rabe is perfect for the role.
'Rebecca' is far from light viewing. With a soundscape that provides a feeling of heaviness as the plot intensifies, it is the kind of show that gets a bit under your skin. It is a wonderful reminder of the way that theatre is more than just something to view, it is something to experience with your whole being. An excellent show that brings together a multitude of elements and skillsets to absolutely shine.
