By Anne-Louise Fortune
The Atrocities at Arkham was an ambitious attempt to weave together three of Lovecraft’s short stories into an hour of fringe theatre. Presented by Tell No Tales Theatre, under the leadership of Julius Wills, an approach that focuses as much on humour as horror made for an accessible and lightning-fast storytelling journey.
Stated to be three stories woven together, the majority of the focus appears to be on Dr Herbert West from the story Herbert West: Reanimator, and The Horror at Red Rock’s Detective Malone, meaning that the interpretation of Dagon is allowed to fall into the background somewhat.
The storytelling is energetic, at times frantic, as the small cast of actors undertake multiple roles, sometimes using items of costume and props which have been set out around the stage, sometimes dashing backstage to transform into a new character. The performances are all strong, although mention must be made of Imogen Hunter’s Detective Malone, trying to maintain a grip on reality as the world becomes ever more unstable around them.
It is however a problem to try to blend three stories, especially when each tale has been both adapted and extended. The stories feel more disjointed than interwoven, there being insufficient links between them. It is also probable that an audience member who was not familiar with the three tales may find themselves somewhat lost in the various narratives, especially as they began to interweave more frequently as the hour reaches its conclusion. Perhaps by focusing on one story and seeing where its narrative could be taken, more focus could have been gained.
This is, however, a testament to the effectiveness of low-budget theatre-making. That enthusiasm and frequent madcap costume changes give the whole endeavour an immense sense of fun. It is also quite possible that never has a wallpaper table played so many different roles in a production.
It is to be hoped that this production finds a wider audience, probably at other fringe festivals around the country, so that Lovecraft aficionados outside of London will be able to experience this bold attempt to create a coherent universe for his short stories to exist within.
