William Peter Blatty’s best selling 1971 novel The Exorcist comes to the Regent Theatre to terrify audiences across the UK. Matthew Clewley heads down to the Regent to bring us this The Exorcist theatre review.
The novel is based on the heavily controversial film that is worshipped by horror and paranormal fans alike. Currently on a UK Tour, The Exorcist stops off at our humble Stoke On Trent to scare the living daylights out of theatregoers. The film has gained cult status and despite its aged special effects it still has maintained that shock value and iconic cult classic status.
The Exorcist, presented by Bill Kenwright, consists of a very experienced cast who are out to prove their worth. Susannah Edgely stars as Regan MacNeil the 12 year old daughter of Chris MacNeil played by Sophie Ward. Tristram Wymark plays movie director Burke Dennis. Paula Nicolas brings his 51 years of theatre experience as Father Merrin. Ben Caplan also stars in the role of Father Damian Karras.
“Nail bitingly scary! A play to send shivers down your spine”
The first part much like the film does take a little while to get into. But it does give you a taste of the overall theme. A dark creepy house where Reagan is uncomfortable and nervous because of the noises she hears. Every noise she hears makes you feel that too. The play builds up once Reagan is possessed with doses of events which create such intensity. An intensity that you begin to thrive off. The second part sees the complete transformation of Reagan being possessed and floods the insanity and pure evil out to the audience in such a nail-biting fashion.
The Exorcist is a formidable theatre take on the novel and film. A production that lives up to its frightening, horrific and stomach-churning reputation. Its beautifully grotesque and the performance owes a lot to Susannah Edgely for her absolutely captivating and terrifying performance as Reagan. Wymark provided an unexpected amount of comic relief to the play. The set was perfectly created to create an eerie backdrop. It was excellent to see the transition between scenes fluid without a pause. The special effects are good to the level of the film and due to this being paranormal-themed I did feel a lot more could have been done to scare the audience more.
The Exorcist Final Thoughts
The Exorcist will send shivers down your spine and will completely shock even the toughest of horror fans. Those who have watched the movie should expect the same idea which should please them. I may not be a theatre genius, but I feel The Exorcist has the potential to bring the horror genre commercially to the theatre. The Exorcist has now championed the world of theatre with its uneasy atmosphere and constant motion as the plot begins to become impossible to ignore.
Due to the extreme content of foul language, sexual and self-harm scenes do not take your children to this.
The Exorcist Theatre Review by Matthew Clewley
