Edith In The Dark

Harrogate Theatre

4 Stars

A welcome addition to the festive calendar, Edith In The Dark offers a spooky alternative to pantomime.

Taking its inspiration from Edith Nesbit's Tales Of Terror, Philip Meek's play sees the children's writer retreat to an attic room with an uber-fan and her loyal housekeeper to read a selection of her self-penned ghost stories.

As they breathe life into tales about vampire plants, vengeful spurned lovers and zombie bridegrooms, they each enact multiple characters.

Within the dusty, crumbling confines of the attic, Nesbit (Blue Merrick), the mysterious Mr Guasto (Scott Ellis) and elderly maid Biddy Thricefold (Janet Amsden) are transformed into - among other things - giddy schoolgirls and scheming servicemen.

The fractious dialogue between each tale soon reveals the painful inspiration behind the writing, derived from Nesbit's personal experiences.

A political activist and stridently modern woman, she also suffered the death of her teenage son, had an openly philandering husband and lived in an unhappy menage a trois.

Meek's script carefully touches upon each subject, adding an autobiographical back story to Nesbit while also making it clear that there may be a real darkness lurking in the shadows.

The twist at the end echoes Edgar Allan Poe and MR James, both of whom Nesbit disparaged.

But it certainly keeps those watching on the edge of their seats.

Susan Darlington