This week, I’m going to be discussing Audible’s version of Patrick Hamilton’s classic thriller, Gaslight.
Gaslight
In The News…
‘Gaslighting’, that is, manipulating someone by psychological means, so that they come to doubt their own sanity, has been in the news recently, thanks to a prominent fictional storyline in The Archers and the real-life quashing of the conviction of Sally Challen for the murder of her husband.
What you might not know is that the term, gaslighting, owes its origin to the 1938 play, Gaslight, by Patrick Hamilton and its British (1940) and American (1944) film adaptations (the latter winning Ingrid Bergman the Academy Award for Best Actress). The term refers to a key plot element in the play, regarding the explanation behind the mysterious diminished flame of a gaslight in the protagonist’s house.
The play is a perennial favourite with both repertory and amateur theatre companies, thanks to its small cast and its intriguing plot. Looking at the harsh reviews on the Audible website of this production of the play, it clearly has its detractors but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also thought that there were some great performances, particularly by Emilia Fox and Terry Molloy (so memorable as one of the early interpretations of Davros, creator of the Daleks, in Doctor Who).
The Plot
Gaslight tells the story of Jack Manningham, who appears to be attempting to convince his wife, Bella, that she is insane. Jack achieves this by manipulating small elements of their home environment, such as moving a picture, or hiding important documents, then insisting that Bella is mistaken, or delusional, when she points out the changes or losses. This dark attempt to destroy Bella’s perception of reality is shocking and still resonates with modern audiences.
Just as we are beginning to doubt Bella will ever escape her horrible predicament, the appearance of police detective, Rough, is so welcome that you will want to cheer. Rough slowly begins to uncover Jack’s real identity and to unravel the puzzle of just why the gaslight drops in intensity.
Conclusion
It might be melodramatic but I enjoyed the intriguing premise. Ultimately, Gaslight is a classic thriller and I highly recommend Audible’s take on it.