Les Affreux

‘Les Affreux (The Frightful Ones)’ written by independent film director, Wade K. Savage, and co-produced with Stuart Mackenzie. It is the debut play from the adventurous, Spectre Theatre Company. This Blue Room Theatre and Spectre Theatre Company co-production is showing at the Blue Room Studio, James Street, Northbridge nightly at 7.00 pm until Saturday 9^th June.
The term ‘Les Affreux’ originally arose in the Congo, when the Belgians started to colonise the area in the 1870s, and author Joseph Conrad was possibly first to coin the term in a novella. The African Mercenaries that wanted independence again revived the title in 1957.

         The door of a luxurious furnished flat opens and a man, with a black eye and a broken arm, staggers in dragging a suitcase. It is Alex (Ethan Tomas), a freelance foreign correspondent, who has just arrived back from a horrendous 5-month stint in Cairo. He calls out for his wife, Nadine (Caris Eves) but there is no reply, the flat is empty.

        He collapses onto the settee and listens to his recorded ‘phone messages. The first is from his magazine boss letting him know that he is now surplus to requirements. The next is from his wife informing him that, after months of worry, without any communication, that she has decided to leave him.

       After a few strange ‘phone calls, and the feeling that someone has been going through his flat whilst he is out, Alex starts to panic. 

       Alex’s literary agent, Scott (Nick Pages-Oliver) arrives to welcome him back, and on hearing the sad news of his wife’s departure, gets his friend a cheery ‘pick-me-up’ in the form of a gorgeous woman for the evening, Catherine (Rina Freiberg). However, even that does not go well. From here, it is all down hill for Alex until eventually he is face-to-face with ‘The Matron’ (Nina Deasley).

A quality set from designer, Alana Starcevich (Stage Managed by Laura Grigson), well lit by Stephen Warren, ranging from the warm welcoming light to a cool blue threatening glow. The skill of having good mood music is that, besides being well-written, it should not be immediately noticeable. ‘The Men from Another Place’ - Dave Richardson and Steve McCall – are such musicians, providing a very effective mood ‘sound’ rather than a melodic tune.

It was good to see a genre that hasn’t been performed at the Blue Room for a few years, a sinister thriller. Wade K. Savage has skilfully built up a good storyline, with excellent dialogue. The cast totally captured the depth of the creepy, frightening situation and the delivery was menacing and eerie. The tension built up beautifully, however with only an hour slot and a small cast, one could almost see where the story was leading. Given an extra half hour, or even better an hour, along with a couple of additional red herring thread lines this would take the play to a new and better level.  Having said this, this was a first class production and I really enjoyed being kept guessing and wondering what the next twist would be. Many congratulations.