The Ebony Frame Review

I am at the atmospheric Barons Court basement theatre for The Ebony Frame – A ghost story. Built on the stories of E. Nesbit, Oliver Giggins’ play has an intriguing premise – an ancient ebony frame which exerts a strange attraction, and haunting powers on its new owner.

A sparse stage with creeping damp on the walls is furnished only with a period chair, lamp and candles. Lighting was minimal to maximize the impact of the candlelight and a repetitive, deep, grinding and thudding soundscape set the tone perfectly for a ghost story.

Unfortunately, the pre-set was the highlight of this production and the following sixty minutes failed to deliver. The central premise — a man increasingly haunted by a past love and an object that seems to take hold of him — is strong, but the development of suspense was uneven and often stalled.

Some of the performances had promise. Alexander Donaldson playing the possessed owner had moments of subtle change —a shift of tone, a hesitant pause — which hinted at what might have been a stronger production if more thoroughly realised.

However, many of the characters, played by the supporting cast, are more suited to pantomime genre, grating painfully against the overall tone and direction of the piece. The plot lacked clarity and whilst there were moments that seemed to mean something, it was hard to grasp exactly what. The central characters have deeply tragic stories, but we were not affected by the performances, and didn’t care for their outcomes. This is a show with a worthwhile idea but one that struggles in execution and disappoints.