The Ghost of the Bridal Chamber by Charles Dickens, performed by Jon Collings, Wolverhampton Literature Festival - review
The historic setting of the Northycote Farm house on a cold January day was the perfect setting for this spine-chiller.
It may have been the ghostly Dickens tale or just the old house but there was definitely a chill in the air during Jon Collings' performance.
This little known tale has it all – murder, revenge and damnation with a few eerie ghosts to boot.
It follows the stay of the narrator in a haunted Lancashire inn when he is visited by a creepy old man who tells him the secret of the bridal chamber and how a tragic girl met her untimely end.
'Not suitable for young children' the guide warned though cynically I wondered why as the lone actor began his tale.
Within seconds I was gripped and did not take my eyes off him for the whole performance.
It is a compelling story and was told with conviction, energy and a slight edge of menace. A fantastic performance and a very entertaining tale. A real chiller!
By Diane Davies
