Review: THE OTHER SIDE, Switch_MCR - 53Two
With Halloween just around the corner, it’s the season for all things spooky so what else to watch to get you in the Halloween spirit than a horror play. Switch_MCR’s latest production The Other Side, co-written by company members Gabriel Clark and Andrew Long, brings a brand-new horror story to life onstage to entertain and spook audiences of Manchester under the arches of 53Two.
Following the untimely death of her mother, Claire moves back into her childhood home that she has inherited with her fiancé Benjamin but as Claire’s past comes back to haunt her, the couple must confront their future together and the secrets the house possesses.
Together, Clark and Long have created an eerie story with two acts of contrasting styles that complement one another. The first act is in the style of the traditional gothic horror genre that takes its time to carefully build tension and unnerve audience members, whereas the second act is more of a camp/kitsch style of horror with a slightly more abstract performance style that brings some answers for both the characters and the audience, with the two acts being mainly tied together by the mysterious character of The Woman. Perhaps a little long as part of a two-act play, the first act feels like it could also work well as a stand-alone performance as it is truly captivating as it builds the tension up to a spectacular yet chilling climax ending on a cliff-hanger, but it is certainly enhanced by the spine-tingling revelations of the second act.
Directed by Switch_MCR’s Artistic Director and the production’s co-writer Gabriel Clark, every single moment is spellbinding and truly captures the audience’s attention, even coaxing out gasps and screams at times. To bring the supernatural to life, The Other Side is quite a technically complex show, with the use of various lighting and sound effects and a detailed set to create the creepy interior of Claire’s mother’s house, which is extra impressive given that Switch_MCR rely upon donations from their followers for the funding of their productions. It’s a shame that some elements of sound and set aren’t quite finessed to make it a seamless performance, but it is still to a very high standard given the complexity of the production’s technical elements.
As well as being the show’s co-writer, Andrew Long plays the role of Benjamin Bates and does a tremendous job. With only a couple of short moments actually spent offstage throughout the whole play, the role of Benjamin seems to be very demanding, both physically and mentally, yet Long still brings an abundance of energy to his performance to exhibit the emotional range of the character as well as his range as a performer, showing his comedic “cheeky chappy” side and pulling at the audience’s heart strings. Sharing the stage with Andrew Long is Ntombizodwa Ndlovu as Benjamin’s fiancé Claire Cross and Gráinne Flynn as the ominous The Woman, who are both excellent in their roles. Ndlovu and Long bring the beautiful relationship of Claire and Benjamin to life with their brilliant chemistry, and Flynn creates a fantastically mysterious and unsettling atmosphere to give the audience a feeling of apprehension.
The Other Side is a wondrously chilling and breath-taking horror story that has been masterfully crafted by the team at Switch_MCR to engross audiences this Halloween season. With a little bit of refining of the technical elements, this production can be a perfect example of what a horror play should be, and it is certainly a story that deserves to be seen by all, whether or not you are a horror fan. We dare you to book your tickets to take a glimpse of The Other Side for a spectacularly spooky supernatural night at the theatre.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Jess Dalloway
The Other Side plays at 53Two until 4 November, with tickets available here.