Gaslight Reviews
Stage and Cinema- Somewhat Recommended
"...Patrick Hamilton's 1938 play, Gas Light (now known as Gaslight) is a melodrama which follows a young woman whose husband slowly manipulates her into believing she is descending into insanity. This one-time taut psychological thriller is set in Victorian England, when the use of gas to light a room was a new innovation; thus, when the gas was lit in one part of the house, the light level dipped briefly in other parts, a technical detail that provides a crucial plot point. Originally three acts, the play has seen many adaptations with various titles, but is known best from George Cukor's 1944 silver-screen masterpiece (with a 17-year-old Angela Lansbury in her film debut), which took three writers-John Van Druten, Walter Reisch, and John L. Balderston-to get it right."
LA Splash- Highly Recommended
"...Skillfully helmed by Michael Rothhaar, GASLIGHT does an excellent job of slowly but inexorably building suspense as bits of the puzzle begin to fall into place. The talented cast does credit to the melodramatic events which ensue. Taubert Nadalini's set and Shon Le Blanc's costumes breathe life into the Victorian period, while Michael's Franco's lighting and Claire German's sound telegraph the eerie and frightening aspects of the terrifying and murderous tale. GASLIGHT will certainly appeal to audiences with an interest in the gothic, as well as the mysterious, exciting, and entertaining. While many are probably familiar with the film, it is likely that - after more than 80 years - few have had the opportunity to see Patrick Hamilton's play. This is a rare opportunity to enjoy a bit of theater history."
Stage Scene LA- Highly Recommended
"...Decades before "gaslighting" became a thing people talked about, a villainous Victorian set about convincing his submissive spouse that she was losing her increasingly muddled mind in Patrick Hamilton's classic thriller Gaslight, a mouthwateringly melodramatic treat from Pacific Resident Theatre."
ArtsBeatLA- Somewhat Recommended
"...Getty delivers a somewhat bland performance as a Bella who seems defeated from the start of the play. This may be part of the situation for the character, but the audience needs someone to root for, and this interpretation of Bella feels more like a bystander than a protagonist. Gwillim, conversely, is over the top with his arch and mannered portrayal of Jack; his villainy never in question. "
Stage Raw- Recommended
"...Ultimately, the production shines brightest in its steadfast adherence to the time, setting, and mood it was written in. While there has been a recent impulse to tech-ify theater with screens, projections, and a whole litany of modern inventions and references, there is something deeply refreshing about a staging that sticks to its original form. When a story is this gripping, you don't need an edgy retelling to speak to modern audiences. Thus, Pacific Resident Theatre's Gaslight serves as up a sound reminder that you don't need a host of bells and whistles to make great theater. With a strong script, a dedicated cast, and confident direction, the very best stories transport us, entertain us, and affirm us, teaching us that those we view as strangers aren't really that strange, and that the past, for better or worse, lives on forever."