REVIEW: BURN holds a suspenseful and fiery grip at The Players' Guild
What makes a ghost story successful? Is it the carefully planned, unnerving amount of tension as you feel the hairs on the back of your neck shoot up? Is it the mystery of who's, where's and why's? Is it the revelations and twists leading you to discover the call is actually coming from inside the house? John Muggleton's play Burn has all of these recognizable elements and more. With a keen understanding of the subject matter and a skillful ensemble cast, director Matthew Willson weaves these elements together to create a fiery and grippingly successful production at The Players' Guild.
This show bursts into life with great energy, even during the pre-show, as three friends reunite in the wake of another friend’s death. It’s quickly established that their familiarity with each other has a sense of estrangement attached. They are waiting for their deceased friend's daughter to arrive and when she does, there is a growing suspicion that she may not be who she appears to be. The audience is immediately drawn into a socially friendly situation on the surface, with unsettling elements and intrigue lurking beneath.
Director Matthew Willson is no stranger to the mysterious and unnerving, having directed The Humans at Dundas Little Theatre in recent years and is completely in his element with the disturbing and darker aspects within Burn. His casting is top notch with the naturalistic and layered performances from everyone on stage. James Vezina is a standout as Robert, who portrays the character with an increasing sense of suspicion and dread. Peter Gruner excels as David; a somewhat pretentious and haughty addition to the friend circle. Gruner does a great job of working out what's going on, his mind always piecing together the story and is believable throughout. Ilene Elkaim is a skillful actor in the role of Samira (Sam), who is definitely the most grounded, no nonsense mediator within the group.
And last, but certainly not least, is Rebecca Durance-Hine as Eve, the estranged daughter and infiltrator of the group of friends. Durance-Hine has always excelled in every role I have seen her play and this is no exception. Her way of relishing the text and captivating us with her storytelling is truly astounding work. She mixes unease, mistrust and unreliability to perfection and we, much like the trio of friends, are drawn in with her every word. She is a storyteller of the highest caliber. Bravo.
Without spoiling much here, the playwriting itself is strong, melding contemporary thriller elements with a classic ghost story. There's plenty for the audience to pick up on from diegetic music cues (which were, at times, distracting from the tension being created on stage) and the massive amount of meaningful props on the impressive set design by Trevor McAnuff and team. Look around and see flames, a checkmate match, stolen trinkets and boxes upon boxes of stories surrounding them. The set lends itself to that lived in, seemingly safe and comfortable environment that harbours more than one harrowing secret. It is a pleasure to see the care and creative influences thrive here in this way as it adds even more to an already compelling story unfolding before us.
Pre Show of BURN.... Cast (L-R): Peter Gruner as David, James Vezina as Robert and Ilene Elkaim as Samira Photo taken by: Steel City Reviews
Burn leaves us with perhaps more questions than it answers but the twists and discoveries made the packed matinee audience whisper, gasp and shuffle nervously in the seats on multiple occasions. There's enough moments of levity too but I advise you not to trust them. Burn's greatest success comes from this small but stellar cast and a director who loves to see his audience squirm with uncertainty and make us beg for more. Go catch this production at the Players' Guild running now until June 15 and let this inferno of mystery and thrills consume you.
