As London life gets back into the swing of things, Wuthering Heights at The National Theatre offers a spectacular evening that reminds you just how good theatre can be, writes Hannah Kelly.
Though a brief glimpse at the plot of Emily Brontë’s novel leaves one in despair, the Wise Children’s company brings this classic alive. The soul/punk rock musical, combined with perfectly toned dark comedy, takes this gothic novel into a play that I didn’t want to ever end.
As Cathy (Lucy McCormick) sings her closing song at the end of the first half, the whole audience let out an audible gasp, and my friend and I found ourselves literally at the edge of our seats.
The combination of brilliant casting, production design, and choreography create something that functions as a whole. The choice to have ‘the moor’ as the narrator was also genius. It is almost impossible to find a weak link.
Where one could despair entirely of the selfish Cathy and Heathcliff, it is the victims of their dysfunctional romance that shine as the real stars. The sometimes superfluous Lintons become main characters on their own merit and young Cathy and Hareton provide a genuine ray of reasonable hope. In the end, true love wins, not in ravished passion, but through hard-won forgiveness.
The National Theatre, South Bank, SE1 until March 19th. Times: Mon-Sat 7.30pm; Wed & Sat matinees 2pm. Admission: £20 – £86
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
