Daventry Express review

http://www.daventryexpress.co.uk/what-s-on/a-terrifyingly-tense-tale-of-terror-comes-to-the-stage-1-7022764
"...
It’s a perfect show for the time of year as an intense psychological drama hits the stage....
And then the actors take to the stage with the repellent Jack played with pure evil by Jonathan Firth and the timid Bella played superbly by Tara Fitzgerald....
...this show is highly recommended...."

I was reading messages on Twitter the other day and I discovered that people who attended the Gaslight,  really liked the performance, saying it was a great production and fantastic acting. And the Q&A on Monday (26 October) was interesting (questions about production decisions, "actioning").. I wish I could attend it.

British Theatre Guide review

http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/gaslight-northampton-roy-12200

"...in Lucy Bailey’s hands, Gaslight becomes a gripping experience. You are on the edge of your seat throughout. She has given the story a modern feel, making it fresh and vibrant without taking it out of its Victorian setting....
...Jonathan Firth is suitably manipulative as Jack; he taunts his wife, even suggesting she is not as attractive as one of their servants as he exerts a typical Victorian husband’s stranglehold over her..."

Broadway world.com (West End) review

http://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/BWW-Reviews-GASLIGHT-Royal-and-Derngate-October-24-2015-20151024
"...Fitzgerald and Firth are giving excellent performances as the Manninghams - both handling rapid changes in character with aplomb...."

Guardian theatre critic Michael Billington review

http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/oct/25/gaslight-review-taut-psychological-thriller-northampton
(he gave 4 stars, too)
"...Acting is superb..."

More reviews

4 stars from the Stage reviews.co.uk
http://www.stagereviews.co.uk/northampton.html

"...Director Lucy Bailey has assembled a formidable team around her – including trusty designer William Dudley, composer Nell Catchpole and stars Tara Fitzgerald and Jonathan Firth – to create an evening of memorable impact and considerable drama....

...The psychological tussles between Fitzgerald and Firth, too, are emphatically a success. It’s easy to see how Hamilton’s dialogue, written in the 1930s, could sound stilted and strange to modern ears, but the pair both find meaning and sense in their repeated phrases and awkwardly-constructed sentences, adding a layer of additional complexity to the already tangled relationship between them....

...Without giving away crucial plot twists, Fitzgerald evokes Bella Manningham’s descent into madness with acuity and painful realism, while Firth, as her husband Jack, lurches persuasively from charm personified to terrifying intimidation at a moment’s notice. Their devastating interactions lie at the heart of this powerful production, and Bailey quite rightly gives them full throttle...."

There will be a post-show talk back following the Monday evening performance (October, 26). I would like to be a fly on the wall in that "Talk Back". Would like to see and hear what will be said.

I'm back

It doesn't take a lot of time to travel from London to Northampton. This journey took about an hour by train. 

    Royal and Derngate is an amazing beautiful theatre. I watched the Saturday matinee performance of "Gaslight". I sat in the stalls, and from here the view was excellent. William Dudley's set is amazing, set in a four storied house in Victorian London. Sound design by Mic Pool and video projection were great, set lighting by Chris Davey created on stage the look and feel of the late afternoon, a time which Hamilton notes as being the time "before the feeble dawn of gaslight and tea". In some review it was written that from the moment you sit down in the theatre, the clever set design draws you into Bella's world of insanity. It is true. It felt like you're a part of this performance: an observer, a drama witness. All of Gaslight is successful, from the set, the lighting design, the costumes, the script, and the cast. I found this a spooky dark psychological thriller-play.

    The timid Bella played superbly by Tara Fitzgerald. And her monstrous husband Jack played by Jonathan. He's playing a cruel, threatening, manipulative character. Sometimes he IS scary, and sometimes he is charming, and flirtatious. Jonathan's had a few sinister roles before, he's a pro villain, he knows how to play the bad guy and he does it perfectly. He knows how to use his voice, how to move on stage. He fills out the stage with his presence. I think it's a physically and emotionally draining role and Jon is superb as Jack Manningham.

    I left Northampton the same day. I declare myself the unluckiest person in the world, because I haven't met Jonathan (again :(, haven't got a chance to see him after the performance. But I enjoyed the play and my trip to Northampton and beautiful London.

P.S. This is my opinion of the play, it might differ from yours. I liked it.

I just came back from Northampton to the hotel I'm staying at in London. I watched the Saturday matinee performance of "Gaslight". What can I say? I was blown away by play and actors. A big round of applause to you, Jonathan, for your excellent performance!!! P.S. I haven't met Jonathan in person. Unfortunately:(

4 stars from the Dailymail

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/reviews/article-3285736/Tara-sends-chills-spine-Gaslight-marvellous-melodrama-writes-QUENTIN-LETTS.html

Libby Purves's review who...

according to her Twitter page ...Writes (novels once, journalism always, theatre reviews formerly on Times, nowhttp://theatrecat.com . Radio 4 Midweek presenter for 30 years, not sacked yet).

She attended this Thursday matinee.    http://theatrecat.com/
"...But this is the original play, realized with gleeful relish by director Lucy Bailey, and a quite brilliant set by William Dudley. ...

...poor Bella (beautifully played straight and poignantly wounded by Tara Fitzgerald) is clearly a tormented victim of a Jonathan Firth who as Jack feels more like something out of Orton or Pinter in their nastier moods. It’s chillingly realistic, and very true to Hamilton’s novelistic vision in its uncompromising portrait of emotional bullying....."

Theatre review from express.co.uk (4 stars)

Today's review
http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/theatre/613828/theatre-review-Gaslight-Royal-and-Derngate-Northampton

"...Its Victorian setting and pulp fiction plot masks an intense study in malevolent manipulation as the evil Jack Manningham (Jonathan Firth, younger brother of Colin) tries to drive his fragile wife Bella (Tara Fitzgerald) insane through a process of psychological attrition.

He’s a nasty piece of work, flirting with the promiscuous maid Nancy (Alexandra Guelff) and leaving his wife alone at night as he indulges his taste for unemployed actresses....

...Apart from Fitzgerald and Firth, who are very well paired and deliver the overheated goods without melodramatic camp, the big attraction is William Dudley’s amazing set...."

Markham, Froggatt and Irwin agency wished good luck to Jonathan on Twitter (on a Press night)...

"Flickering gaslight and creaking floorboards in the Press night for Jonathan Firth... keep your wits about you!"

Here is another review from a theatregoer, who saw this play on Wednesday the 21

https://therealchrisparkle.wordpress.com/2015/10/22/review-gaslight-royal-and-derngate-northampton-21st-october-2015/
"... the scenes between Jack and Bella were superb; a really fantastic study of the chilling domination of one person over another....Jonathan Firth is also superb as the calculating and cruel Jack, really using the pace and control of his voice both to dominate and to lull Bella into a false sense of security. It’s a beautifully understated characterisation of evil – it wouldn’t surprise me if he committed any appalling act he wanted....."

The Guardian gave 3 stars

http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/oct/22/gaslight-review-tara-fitzgerald-royal-derngate-northampton?CMP=twt_a-stage_b-gdnstage

"...When Jonathan Firth’s Jack Manningham smiles, it’s like watching a boa constrictor contemplate its supper..."

First reviews from yesterday's Press night

http://www.northampton-news-hp.co.uk/Review-Gaslight-Royal-Derngate-Northampton/story-28023653-detail/story.html
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The Stage gave 4 stars (out of 5):
https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2015/gaslight-review-at-royal-and-derngate-northampton-authentic-revival-of-bone-chilling-melodrama/?utm_content=bufferf5c93&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

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Whats On Stage.com gave 4 stars as well:
http://www.whatsonstage.com/northampton-theatre/reviews/gaslight-royal-and-derngate-northampton_38988.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=21oct2015

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Here is a very nice review from a theatregoer, who saw preview last Friday and gave 4,5 stars: ".....it's an excellent performance provided by the strong cast..." Some words about Jonathan:..."he totally monstrous Jack. Playing him is Jonathan Firth and this is a wonderfully creepy performance with switches in manner perfectly controlled. Never knowing from one moment which Jack you are going to get leaves both his wife and the audience on edge. He also looks the part as a Victorian chap as well..."

http://asmallmindatthetheatre.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/review-of-patrick-hamiltons-gaslight-at.html

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This review is from the Northampton Chronicle and Echo:
"... Jonathan Firth as Jack Manningham gets that combination of plausible charm and cruelty that allows his character to get away with his scheme for so long...."
http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/what-s-on/theatre/review-victorian-melodrama-brings-an-evening-of-tension-in-gaslight-at-royal-derngate-1-7023152

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The Times gave 4 stars (but, unfortunately, you need to be subscribed, if you want to read this article)

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/stage/theatre/article4592141.ece
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4 stars from the thereviewshub.com, calling the "Gaslight" -".... a great melodrama, intriguing, engrossing, recommended... cleverly-written script....at the heart of the production are two powerful performances: Tara Fitzgerald... Opposite is Jonathan Firth as a cruel and domineering Jack, threatening and cajoling in equal measure as he exploits Bella’s situation for his own ends. His strong physical presence on the stage complements his manipulative character well.
http://www.thereviewshub.com/gaslight-royal-derngate-northampton/

Dress Rehearsal photographs for "Gaslight" opening tonight at Royal and Derngate! (Good luck to the cast and crew!)

Photos by idil Sukan
https://www.facebook.com/RoyalandDerngate?ref=hl

"Gaslight" opens tomorrow!

Watch this short trailer here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXyIcuzm69Q

here are screenshots from this video:

The "Gaslight" premiere is tomorrow. Well, brake a leg, Jonathan!

An article from the British Theatre Guide

http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/news/tara-to-shine-in-gaslight-in-n-5400

Stunning rehearsal photographs for "Gaslight"

I like black and white photos...

P.S. I think the beard suits Jonathan so well. :)
Photos by Idil Sukan
https://www.facebook.com/RoyalandDerngate?ref=hl

The set for "Gaslight" is getting ready

Gaslight trailer

R&G Theatre has been filming a "Gaslight" trailer yesterday. Here are Jonathan F. and Tara Fitzgerald filming.

Happy Teacher's Day!

Happy Teacher's Day to all teachers in the world! Happy Teacher's day to you, Jonathan and have a good time at rehearsals!!!