Logan’s storytelling prowess makes Hauntings a memorable night of ghostly tales.
Hauntings, a solo performance of Gerard Logan, takes its audience on a chilling journey through the eerie tales of E.F. Benson and M.R. James. With Logan in a faux dinner suit and a high backed arm chair it conjured up the imaginings of a Victorian drawing room, the audience gathered around a flickering fire, sharing ghost stories that sent shivers down our spines.
Logan’s potential calling as an audiobook narrator shines brilliantly in this production (he should definitely pursue this if he hasn’t already!). His voice effortlessly shifted between characters and capturing their distinct accents and mannerisms. Each character came to life vividly, and Logan’s performance was undoubtedly the highlight of the evening for me. His portrayal of the unscrupulous lawyer in “Naboth’s Vineyard” and the terrified professor in “Oh, Whistle and I’ll Come to You, My Lad” was perfect but his Father Dennis stole the show!
It’s worth noting that some audience members seemed to have expected a more traditional theatrical performance and left abruptly at half time which felt a little unfair given Logan’s confident and compelling delivery.
One aspect where the show could have been improved was in creating more immersive soundscapes and lighting effects. Additional sound effects and music could have heightened the suspense and chills he was looking to generate. A well-timed creaking floorboard or a subtle rustling in the background could have amplified the eerie atmosphere, whilst flashes of lighting or intense switches from black to light could have gave the audience a bit of a jump scares
The stories themselves, are classic examples of the ghost story genre, and Logan’s delivery did them justice. “Oh, Whistle and I’ll Come to You, My Lad” was particularly chilling, and a perfect finisher. I’ve seen MR James’ stories performed on the BBC at Christmas time but I think this more intimate setting brought them to life in the way the author intended.