| Rebecca |
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by Clifford Williams 17 - 26 March 2011
Adapted from the novel by Daphne du Maurier, this is the much-read tale of a young girl who marries an older man, Maxim de Winter, and is taken to live on his West Country estate, Manderley. There, her early happiness withers away as she gradually becomes involved in the mystery of de Winter’s first wife, Rebecca, who died in unknown circumstances. Rebecca’s unseen presence fills the house, enthusiastically promoted by the sinister housekeeper, Mrs Danvers, whose loyalty to the dead women is fierce and unhinged. Driven to despair by the dark menace surrounding her, the young wife is on the point of taking her own life when the truth of Rebecca’s death is finally revealed and the de Winters emerge from the shadows to begin their married life together. You may know the ending but this story unfolds with a gripping intensity which makes for superb theatre. Cast
Croydon Advertiser ReviewTheo Spring 8 April 2011 This well known Daphne Du Maurier novel attracted packed houses for Ian Akhurst’s production at the Miller Centre. Ian Brown turned to the serious side of his usually comic acting to bring Maxim de Winter to life – a man bearing a heavy secret. And Emma Bugg grew the confidence of the originally timid Mrs de Winter – entering as a young bride, nervous of creating a faux pas in a strange world and ending as a tower of strength to the husband she loved. Maxim’s sister and brother-in-law greeted the newlyweds on their arrival at Manderley with Claire Connery as the horsy tactless Beatrice and Nigel Swift as her far more empathetic husband Giles. The novel is renowned for the sinister housekeeper Mrs Danvers and although Sheila Neale captured some of this darkness, her friendliness toward Mrs de Winter jarred. Jack Favell is the roué who hopes he holds the trump card against Maxim and Mark Pendry really got down and dirty whilst almost keeping up his polite veneer. Helping Maxim to run the Manderley estate is Frank Crawley whose home houses the estate office. Tony Dent made the role a little more avuncular than employee – being a long-term friend of the family as well as working for them. John Tough was the firm but fair Colonel Julyan, Chris Hearn the boatbuilder Tabb and David Ryland was Frith the butler.
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