“Therese Raquin” – a musical by Emile Zola & Craig Adams

Therese Raquin by Emile Zola

Music by Craig Adams

Book and Lyrics by Nona Shepphard

Finborough Theatre – playing until 19th April 2014

The audience is immediately hit by the intensity created by Craig Adams and Nona Shepphard in their musical adaptation of Zola’s novel depicting love and despair. 12 actors, some in multiple roles, form an intricate physical puzzle in a space so tiny that the viewer is overwhelmed by performances of powerful emotions.

The beautiful Therese is silent for the play’s first 30 minutes, which symbolises her being trapped in a loveless marriage to her anaemic cousin, Camille. She bursts into song only when her husband invites the macho Laurent to one of his mother’s weekly domino games. From this moment Therese and Laurent experience an animal-like connection, which erupts literally at the feet of the audience. What follows is a tale of tragedy begetting tragedy – leaving the message that passion only lasts behind the closed door of an illicit affair.

Visit the Finborough Theatre to witness the inventive use of space with all the scene changes flowing before your eyes. Each domino game resembles a Caravaggio painting complete with the chiaroscuro. Later, a chilling atmosphere is mastered so simply by the actors, covered by sheets, to represent a morgue.

All the acting is strong, particularly from the main protagonists – Therese and Laurent played by Julie Atherton and Ben Lewis. Their relationship exudes enough sexual chemistry to engulf this small space. The audience is left gasping…for their next visit to the Finborough Theatre.