The Exorcist
23 October 2017
Phoenix Theatre
5.0 out of 5.0 stars
As a fan of the horror genre, I had to see John Pielmeier’s adaptation of The Exorcist when it came to the Phoenix Theatre here in London.
The play is staged in one act with no intermission, which is very helpful for immersion in the story. Right from the ge to, the atmosphere was inherently creepy and unsettling; the house lights dimmer than usual and a rich crimson red colour that immerses the theatre in a creepy mood, spooky background whispers highten this impression, setting a beautifully scary mood even before the show starts.
As the lights begin to lower and the whispers grow louder with clearly audible loud breathing, the tension and suspense of the audience was palatable. Suddenly, the theatre is plunged into pitch black darkness, while the whispering and breathing are exchanged for a scream.
What a beautiful way to start this play! Making sure everyone in the audience is on edge and ready for this atmospheric staging of a horror classic.
The story follows the book more closely than the film, but seems to focus more on the gory, scary parts rather than fleshing out any of the characters. It’s definitely not a play for everyone, but I massively enjoyed it.