The Whistling at The Mill at Sonning until November 16 Review by DEREK ANSELL THE Whistling at the Mill at Sonning has all the ingredients of a good, spooky ghost story. And then some. It is an adaptation of Rebecca Netley’s novel and a world premiere.
It has been adapted for the stage by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel. The director, Joseph Pitcher has been assisted by an assistant director doubling as a movement director, lighting, and sound designers, set designer and an illusionist. Now it isn’t too often you see an illusionist listed with a production team.
They needed him though, that’s for sure. Craggy, forbidding looking stage flats moved around the stage eerily as the skyline formed a swirling blue/grey haze. Dark figures in bleak clothing appeared suddenly from the rear, side or back of the stage and just seemed to float, menacingly.
As to the whistling that was just a part of it. Wind, thumping great heartbeat like sounds and strange, menacing music were all skilfully integrated into this production. It wasn’t just the stuff of nightmares it was a treble dose of them.
The story concerns the arrival of Elspeth on a remote Scottish island in the 1860s to become a nanny to a frightened, bereaved young girl. Rebecca Forsyth played the visitor using a wide range of emotions and many different expressions to play the determined, sometimes frightened but compassionate young woman. The very young girl Mary was played impressively by Sophie Bidgood on this night.
Du.