THE TURN OF THE SCREW
If you’re a SoCal denizen looking for something fun to do this week-end, I have a good suggestion for you. It’s what my friends and I just did this past week-end, and now you have only this coming week-end left to see The Turn of the Screw at the Sierra Madre Playhouse.
Shayna Gabrielle and Michael Mullen. Photo by Berrie Tsang.
First of all, it was great to be back at the Sierra Madre Playhouse after three and a half years away due to the pandemic! And here’s some extra good news for this time of year—the air-conditioning in the Playhouse is spot-on, so no worries there. (It kind-of has to be good for this show—the actors are bundled-up in late 1800s attire!)
One of the interesting items in the lobby display. Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one at the top of this review.
I’ve always loved that venue, so when I saw that they were presenting a play version of the classic Gothic horror story, The Turn of the Screw, which sounded intriguing, I knew it was the right time to return there, with my actress friend Jeanine and theatre-loving pal Marc in tow.
That whole tale is being told with just two actors. The male, Michael Mullen, plays four characters, (although I think I had been told that it’s five; if that’s the case, I must have spaced-out during that extra one, which must have been a brief appearance.) Pretty Shayna Gabrielle plays the new governess, who pretty much narrates the scenario. And they both do excellent British accents.
I have never read the 1898 novella by Henry James, nor seen either of the films or the mini-series of it, because I hate horror presentations, but done the way this one is presented on stage, it’s not too scary. (So I didn’t need to bring Marc for his muscle-y arm, after all!) The production is more like some friends, (albeit very old school ones!,) acting-out an interesting story for us. In a parlour, to boot!
Jeanine said the actors did a “tremendous job.” She added, “They created a whole world out there, in a minimalist way.” (I wish that I had come up with those great observations!)
Michael Mullen and Shayna Gabrielle. Photo by Berrie Tsang.
I must admit that I didn’t understand the ending, so I researched everything about The Turn of the Screw as soon as I got home. And it appears that what we see on stage at the Sierra Madre is just how James wrote it! I guess it’s up to the audience to figure it out. But in this case, it’s not the resolution, it’s the journey that’s so interesting.
Here’s a thought about the tale itself, which made me chuckle to myself when it occurred to me: It was written in 1889, and considered to be a such a horror story, but today it wouldn’t even make it as a show on the CW network, which specializes in supernatural series! It’s just not horrific enough.
But that makes it perfect for an intimate theatre such as this one; you wouldn’t want to hear the patrons screaming, of course.
Michael Mullen and Shayna Gabrielle. Photo by Berrie Tsang.
I have to laud Shayna for something that happened the night we saw The Turn of the Screw. She had a coughing spell for several minutes during the show, and we all noticed that she handled it beautifully. Jeanine admired how she “rose to the challenge.” Being actresses ourselves, we definitely felt for Shayna. (As did Marc—her kept whispering to me, loudly, that someone should get her water, which I was wishing myself! I almost handed my own bottle up to the stage, but had to force myself to not do that.) And she got through it with no help from anyone. I think that from now on, the theatre should hide an old-fashioned goblet of water on the table at the back of the set. (And they don’t even have to credit me in the program for that idea; I’m giving it to them, and every theatre in the world, gratis!)
Another eerie part of the lobby display. Photo by Karen Salkin.
Speaking of gratis, more good news is that there’s tons of easy, free parking a block in back of the theatre!
Actually, it’s not just the theater I missed during that time away—it’s that whole adorable town! So I suggest that, because the play is under an hour and a half, you take advantage of the extra time before or after it to check-out any of the cute and delicious eateries in the area, whether it be just pizza/ice cream or a full meal at one of the sit-down restaurants that are right there. (We went with post-show pizza and wings.)
The whole event is the perfect date night, friends outing, or even family day afternoon, (as long as the kids are old enough for a scary tale.) But parts of the show are also very amusing, so I say go for it, even alone.
The Turn of the Screw runs through July 30, 2023
Sierra Madre Playhouse 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Sierra Madre
626-355-4318 www.sierramadreplayhouse.org
