A Pleasing Terror (Tour – Salford)

Nunkie Theatre Company specialise in telling classic tales of horror and the fantastic. Keeping the formula fresh must be a challenge and recent tours have seen solo performer R M Lloyd Parry expand his source material from the obvious choice of M R James to include also H P Lovecraft and HG Wells and to not so much tell as enact the stories with the use of props and sound effects.

A Pleasing Terror sees Lloyd Parry go back to basics in terms of his chosen author whilst retaining some of the showmanship and more theatrical storytelling techniques that have characterised recent productions. This approach is so successful that a sudden dramatic shift in the storytelling draws a cry of alarm from an audience member.

The current production features two M R James stories linked by the concept of a curse captured in a picture but subtly different in their approach. ‘Canon Albrec’s Scrapbook’ is one of James’s most powerful tales with the protagonist forced to confront a horror beyond his imagination whilst ‘The Mezzotint’ has a more academic edge as research reveals the horrifying story behind supernatural changes in a picture.

As a tribute to the manner in which the tales were originally told (James used to recite them to his students) the stage is set as a drawing room with a traditional high backed leather chair, a decanter (from which Lloyd Parry regularly imbibes) and, crucially, candlesticks which provide the only lighting. The atmosphere of encroaching horror is enhanced by the candles being gradually extinguished leaving the speaker in eerie twilight.

Although seated throughout Lloyd Parry’s storytelling is highly dramatic and absorbing with the speaker twisting and turning in his seat as the horror deepens. The pacing is excellent with the performer occasionally so overwhelmed by the story that he is forced into gulping silence.

Lloyd Parry develops full personalities for the characters including the narrator whose slightly smug self satisfaction allows the occasionally hint of humour as he pauses to be sure that his efforts at telling jokes are appreciated or checks that the audience understands Latin phrases.

He is fully aware that horror stories have a strong fan base and ensures that the giddy enthusiasm of the collector is reflected in the characters. The main success is, however, the halting manner in which the protagonists, all intelligent rational people, are forced to accept the horrifying proof of supernatural evil. The end to act one, in which Lloyd Parry brings to life a monster using just the shape of his hand illuminated by candlelight, is stunning.

The material chosen by the Nunkie Theatre Company has an obvious appeal to genre enthusiasts but the skilful presentation by Lloyd Parry ensures its accessibility to a wider audience and makes the evening a full theatrical experience.

A Pleasing Terror is currently touring the UK and is at the Lowry until 26 April. For full dates, click here.

– Dave Cunningham