The Hodgsons had no idea what a poltergeist was when, in the summer of 1977, furniture and toys started moving of their own accord. An ordinary, working-class family, who lived in a north London council house became the centre of one of the most famous poltergeist events in the world. This is the story of one night in the spring of 1978 when events were approaching a climax.
Based on the first-hand accounts of one of the ghost hunters, THE ENFIELD HAUNTING is the true story of what happened when a dedicated single mother, tries to protect her three children from something that is incomprehensible, deeply disturbing and is hurtling to a terrifying conclusion.
The real story behind The Enfield Haunting is an interesting one. What was the truth behind this media story from the 1970s? Was it a tale of paranormal worlds? Are the children just making it up? Maybe they were doing it unknowingly and something psychological going on? Were the media just desperate for a story? There are plenty of interesting ways to deal with this story; unfortunately, The Enfield Haunting misses them all.
It’s difficult to know where to start with this one, at only an hour 15 it still feels too long and the writing feels messy and unfinished. It feels like a show that’s been ripped apart and stitched back together in a way that loses any sense of drama. Neither managing to explore the interesting themes at play or being a full-out scare theatre as in the likes of Women in Black or 2.22 A Ghost Story. The direction only adds to the confused state of this show, at one point, for instance, a character walks on stage having cut her foot on a teapot recently broken by the poltergeist, except the teapot is centre stage and she is nowhere near it. There are a few instances like this that left the audience thoroughly confused about the choices being made by the director.
The main miss for me is there’s just no build of tension. Despite the jump scare attempts at no point is there a feeling that you are watching something that’s meant to be frightening. This is only made worse when we see the poltergeist, done in a series of ways that are so ineffective the audience is more likely to laugh than shriek. You can’t help but feel it would be more effective if he was never shown.
Then there is the ending. Where it felt like a powerful end speech for Peggy to gain control over her household was due, instead she just repeated ‘this is my home‘ twice, losing the little sense of drama it had managed to build and with a blackout that didn’t come quick enough for the audience even to realise it had ended.
It’s not all doom and gloom however, there are some positives to the show. David Threlfall in the role of Maurice, does a great performance with the script he has been given which at times is no easy feet. Also, the set and props are great, they are incredibly detailed and well-thought-through for the use of the space. Sadly, it’s not enough to save this production.
Ultimately it’s a show that is simultaneously too simplistic while simultaneously being confusing and messy in its execution. The Enfield Haunting is on at the Ambassadors Theatre until the 2nd of March, tickets start from £31 from the London Theatre Direct website.
Tickets were gifted in exchange for a review, all words and opinions are my own. Contains affiliate links.
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Well said I agree with most of that. I was bored 15 minutes in.