Passion. Violence. Revenge. These are evocative traits associated with Emily Bronte's literary classic Wuthering Heights. Humor? Less.
And yet, the stark and unflinching stage adaptation, presented at Royal & Derngate by the Inspector Sands theater company, spews out a torrent of delicious black comedy that's wildly entertaining.
Instead of wallowing in the bleak Yorkshire setting, writer-director Ben Lewis and Lucinka Eisler somehow managed to craft an adaptation that's hysterically funny while sensitively tackling tumultuous themes of emotional hysteria.
Framed by the unreliable narrator Nelly (Guilia Innocent), a house maid from Wuthering Heights, the plot opts to focus on dysfunctional family relationships, class, and racism, rather than focusing on the love story of Catherine and Heathcliff. .
While this may not be the Wuthering Heights I remember studying in college, it captures the intensity, melodrama, and gut-wrenching destruction of the 19th-century classic.
The wind howls, the lights flicker, and the horror of the Earnshaw and Linton homes unfolds at a brisk pace, largely due to Innocent's gripping performance. Meanwhile, the cast around her plays multiple roles, with John Askew particularly compelling as Hindley/Hareton.
Slightly less rewarding is the central relationship of Cathy and Heathcliff, whose passion seems to simmer rather than simmer, while the strong voiceovers seem a little over the top given Nelly's narrative role.
And while Ike Bennett's Heathcliff is a muddled series of corrupted innocence and heartbroken vengeance, it's not backed by enough menace.
But these little niceties are barely noticeable as the production shifts from one moody disturbance to the next while drawing plenty of laughs.
Unpredictable, chaotic and filled with an explosion of f-bombs, this energetic production is a dark delight from start to finish.
Wuthering Heights is at the Royal & Derngate until May 6. Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. every night, with a matinee at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3. Production is recommended for ages 14+. Tickets start at ยฃ15 before fees. Visit royalandderngate.com or call 01604 624811 to book or for more information.
