I hadn’t heard of the Dickensian short story before researching this particular production of it. I think I probably only know the classics, A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities, etc. etc. However, once I had done my homework I am struck with the idea of a lone shadowy figure, witnessing apparitions amongst the spectacle of Victorian steam trains.
So there I am, smugly sitting in the audience waiting to be wowed. Unfortunately, that feeling never really arrives for me. It’s a fine adaptation to be sure. There are no glaring faults or errors, nothing goes wrong, but it’s not enough to keep my interest.
As I watch the performance, I keep catching my mind drifting to other things. Actor Tim Larkfield acts for the whole fifty minutes with no one else to rely on and so has to be commended, but personally the performance doesn’t come across as nuanced or emotional as I would have liked. It’s a bit shouty at times, not as flickering as a man being driven mad by haunting should be somehow.
The essence of my complaint is the show overall being a bit one note throughout. I’m not once surprised watching The Signalman; none of the choices being made intrigue me. It mostly does what it says on the tin: it offers up the story faithfully without many frills. Good for a Dickens fan, who just wants to sit back and enjoy the story as they know it to be.
The Signalman, Zoo Southside, 14:55, until August 25.
