The Shadow in the Mirror – The Mill at Sonning offers a captivating Gothic Horror story about a Haunted Manor based on the short story by Gerald Durrell called The Entrance. This production has been adapted and directed by Dugald Bruce-Lockhart.

Peter Letting (Nick Waring) is facing prosecution after a gruesome discovery is made in the house where he was commissioned to document and value an extensive library of a deceased French member of the establishment.

George Dillon takes on the role of the prison jailer. Challenging the prisoner at every step, demanding the facts and encouraging Letting to carry on writing and somehow to eventually reach the truth, whatever that might be. Truth can often be stranger than fiction!

Gregg Lowe and Giles Taylor play the other characters throughout the play. Each one challenges Letting in a different way and the truth becomes distorted as the story unfolds. Leading to a dark and disturbing conclusion.

As with many Gothic Horror stories, the tension is built up in the narrative and description adding dark chilling “seeds” into the imagination and allowing the audience to picture many of the scenes. For example, we never see the expansive library, although we can picture how far it expands from the descriptions.

Set designer Diego Pitarch sets the scenes through different aspects of the staging. I was particularly intrigued by the large porthole-style door on stage left where the prison guards emerge from, I could imagine the damp mouldy smell associated with the image. The many staircases and portrayal of hidden rooms added to the intrigue of an old family estate.

However, no Gothic Horror is complete without excellent lighting and sound design which impact the senses and heighten the suspense of what might and often does happen next. Mike Robertson and Simon Slater bring these two together superbly.

Four Stars.

For more information about The Shadow in the Mirror and future productions at The Mill at Sonning please use the link below.

Photo credit Pamela Raith.

https://millatsonning.com/