Although I am sure there have been plenty, I don’t remember being aware of a stage version of ‘Wuthering Heights’. Having initially been acquainted with Emily Bronte’s novel after seeing the amazing Kate Bush on Top of the Pops - which I think for many people immortalised the tragic story of Heathcliff and Cathy - there have been a couple of excellent TV dramatisations and several well-known films... but nothing live that I am aware of. I was therefore very interested to see ‘Heights’ Theatre Company’s interpretation of the story (although I wasn’t quite sure what to expect once I realised it was in fact a musical version!)
This show actually has found a genre that suits both the narrative, characterisation and time period very well. The music has been composed by Musical Direcytor, Michael Bascom - who played the keyboard brilliantly on stage behind the cast throughout much of the show - greatly enhancing Bronte’s story as well as being effectively interwoven into the dialogue. The cast of five were clearly classically trained singers, with some really beautiful solo and ensemble performances, particularly in the second half (the final choral piece in particular was superbly crafted). In actual fact if this was a recital with just the songs and music from ‘Cathy..’ it would be worth coming to for that reason alone.
Visually the production also worked very well. Although the stage was stripped back with one or two pieces of token furniture, the white Victorian-esque costumes worn by all five performers were strikingly effective, giving the show an erstwhile almost ghostly feel.
The actors operated effectively as a collective with some very strong ensemble, stylised moments and lovely choral collective reactions, which went a long way to enhancing the visual quality of the production as well as effectively developing the narrative. Individually there were some highly focused performances with a memorable turn by Oscar George Copper as the alcoholic lover of gambling Hindley (Cathy’s employer) who at times commanded the stage; and Susannah Greenow as Nelly - the housekeeper who tried to hold it all together as the chaos caused by Heathcliffe’s return ensued. As Cathy’s love interests, Joseph Folley’s Edgar and Samuel Terry’s Heathcliffe were both believably and competently portrayed. Terry in particular developed impressively over the course of the 75 minute running time, declaring “ I cannot live without my soul” as the now ‘dead’ Cathy dramatically stabbed him. We really did feel his pain.
My research tells me that Emma Torrens, playing Cathy, has just been awarded the Derek Award for Best Voice. And certainly her soprano tones were exceptionally lyrical and at times mesmerisingly haunting - beautifully filling the historic space (a church that is in fact one of the original Fringe venues). For me however, her performance was in some ways lacking, in terms of the passionate emotional expressiveness that I perceive Cathy to have. Albeit her portrayal was incredibly internalised and intense, I couldn’t help feeling that she lacked both the free-flowing physicality and the willful, wild mischievousness of this female protagonist.
Although not without its flaws (not least the fact that the show occasionally tips into the ‘melodrama’ genre) ‘Cathy: A Retelling of Wuthering Heights’ is nonetheless an interesting adaptation of the infamous story - not least because of its significant, highly original musical element. So if you need a late night rest from the comedy and high energy Festival antics up the road, settle into something a bit different to escape the festival madness...
Reviewer - Georgina Elliott
on - 21/8/19
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