Dangerous Corner (Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold)

Archive: This review was first published on September 16, 2014 by the Daily Post

Everybody has a secret; maybe you have several. It's human nature to keep things from one another, either because the truth will hurt a loved one or, most selfishly, hurt ourselves.

J B Priestley's classic Dangerous Corner is a beautifully constructed two-act play which begins in the drawing room of a successful publisher's house as a party winds down for the evening. There's typical 1930s jollity, society gossip and some gorgeous, flowing dresses.

But what appears to be a pleasant gathering of society friends soon plunges, like a rollercoaster, out of control when one seemingly innocent question is asked: would anybody like a cigarette?

I'm giving nothing away by saying that the very moment Freda Caplan (Finty Williams) asks her party guests if they would like a smoke, things take at first an intriguing turn, then as time goes on, get increasingly exasperating and ever more revealing. The play is built upon shock after shock, twist after turn.

Hitchcock used to have what he called a MacGuffin in his films: a plot device without which the drama would not transpire, a trigger for events. It might be a key (as in Dial M for Murder), or the "wrong" hat (as in Rope), or even just the colour red (as in Marnie). In Dangerous Corner it is undoubtedly Freda's musical cigarette box (or is it Martin's?). As soon as this enters the play, everything changes.

It's hard to say anything more about the plot from this point on as the joy of the play is in watching events unravel before your eyes, Priestley's masterful dialogue and plotting reach fever pitch at the climax of Act 1, the theatre plunging into darkness as one of the characters makes a game-changing revelation that leaves you desperate for more.

The play is not complicated, but you do need to concentrate to keep up with the tangled web Priestley's characters weave. If you let your mind wander, or you drop off for a few minutes, you're doomed. This is an intricately plotted story which the likes of Steven Moffat or Christopher Nolan, masters of twisted fiction in the 21st century, would be proud of.

The cast are all excellent, notably Michael Praed as suave cad Charles Stanton (who has a dark secret). He plays these period parts so well, and gets most of the play's biggest laughs. There are also spirited turns from Matt Milne and Lauren Drummond as husband and wife Gordon and Betty (who of course, each have secrets), but the star performer is Kim Thomson as Olwen Peel (guess what? She has secrets). Thomson gives a very likeable performance as a woman who knows more than she lets on, but always seemingly for the right reasons. Or maybe not. It really does depend on where your personal morality lies.

This play should be better known, just as much as Priestley's An Inspector Calls. It's clever, it treats the audience with intelligence, and rewards in spades. With good actors like this at the helm, it is the perfect night's entertainment, especially for those who like a good mystery.

The stats

Writer: J B Priestley

Director: Michael Attenborough

Cast: Finty Williams (Freda Caplan); Rosie Armstrong (Miss Mockridge); Lauren Drummond (Betty Whitehouse); Kim Thomson (Olwen Peel); Michael Praed (Charles Stanton); Matt Milne (Gordon Whitehouse); Colin Buchanan (Robert Caplan)

Performed at Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, September 15 to 20, 2014 (part of a Bill Kenwright Productions tour). Performance reviewed: September 15, 2014.

Links

Dangerous Corner on Clwyd Theatr Cymru website (retrieved Jan 11, 2015)

The J B Priestley Society (retrieved Jan 11, 2015)

Dangerous Corner on Bill Kenwright website (retrieved Jan 11, 2015)