Night Must Fall @ The Guild Theatre

Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (reviewed Saturday 15 March 2025).

Emlyn Williams’ play Night Must Fall is so good you will want to see it at least twice. Debuted in 1935, it is full of surprise and suspense reminiscent of old Hollywood movies.

The set takes us to the interior of Mrs Bramson’s home, a prickly, elderly widow who is visited by her aloof niece, Olivia. The servants are loyal yet thrive on a bit of gossip when the once-safe nest of their dwelling is visited by a handsome young man – handsome he may be, though he also represents a cat amongst the pigeons.

Olivia – sensible, meek and shy Olivia – develops an attraction to danger while at the same time is repulsed by what this young man has done. Sophie Brown skilfully navigates Olivia’s emotional journey, revealing subtextual feelings of conflict, intuition and curiosity as something deep inside of her stirs with passion. Her heart says yes while her head says no, and Brown carries this pivotal role with tacit understanding.

Samuel Chapman as stranger-danger Dan is beyond a technically good actor, he’s also an electric performer, buzzing with charm and charisma as he seduces the characters – and the audience – with his happy-go-lucky schmick. As his thoughts progressively become darker and less concealed, we hear lines uttered with bitter experience: “it’s like I am a dirty window, and customers see right through me” says Dan sharply, as he recalls what it feels like to wait on others.

Leigh Scanlon as the miserly Mrs Bramson commands fear from the throne of her wheelchair, inciting contempt but also pity for her oedipal attraction to Dan, becoming more and more reliant on him as some sort of surrogate husband / companion.

The support cast are excellent in carrying the narrative with solid performances. The acting choices are interesting and keeps the story engaging and unpredictable.

Set Design by Nathan Farrow and Set Construction by the Guild Members create an environment that is both cozy and contained, with a back wall that wraps around the edges creating depth and perspective. The real estate is used to its fullest potential, conveying space and territory as characters circle around each other with suspicion and anticipation.

The pace in pre-interval (Act 1/2) is a slow burn and can feel a little protracted in establishing the characters. Part 1 runs for 90 minutes. Act 3, which runs for 60 minutes, cruises like a Ferrari down a windy mountain; scarcely has time passed before the covers are ripped of their hinges. The final reveal is a shock to the system, and the audience was in no hurry to leave their seats, needing a moment or two to process what just happened. A sign of masterful delivery by the cast, director (Vivien Wood) and crew.

Do catch it before it closes, this is truly something remarkable.

Night Must Fall is playing at The Guild Theatre in Rockdale till 5 April 2025. For tickets and showtimes, go to https://www.guildtheatre.com.au/2025-season/night-must-fall/

Images:

Grant Leslie Photography

Cast:

Brian McGann – Lord Chief Justice
Leigh Scanlon – Mrs Bramson
Sophie Brown – Olivia Grayne
Brendan Jones – Hubert Laurie
Catherine Waters – Mrs Terence
Grace Johnson – Dora Parkoe
Kevin Tanner – Inspector Belsize
Samuel Chapman – Dan
Sandra Archer – Nurse Libby

Crew: