Thrilling Theatrical Special Effects
“Doesn’t eat…doesn’t sleep “
Henry’s medical history
“You can’t fix me.”
Henry to Dr Brenner
“Hawkins, Indiana 1959: a regular town with regular worries. Young Jim Hopper (Oscar Lloyd)’s car won’t start, Bob Newby (Christopher Buckley)’s sister (Patty Newby played by Ella Karena Williams) won’t take his radio show seriously and Joyce Maldonado (Isabella Pappas) just wants to graduate and get the hell out of town. When new student Henry Creel (Louis McCartney) arrives, his family finds that a fresh start isn’t so easy… and the shadows of the past have a very long reach.”
Stranger Things – The First Shadow is a play for theatre drawing on the Netflix series Stranger Things which first aired in 2016. Playwright Jack Thorne and Kate Trefry have written what is a prequel for the Duffer Brothers’ story of 1980s teenagers in rural Indiana who are fighting monsters from a world called “Upside Down”.
Set in 1950s Indiana, the Creel family have moved from where there was an incident which involved their son Henry, to get away from his notoriety, to small town Hawkins. The opening historical scenes on board the USS Eldridge in 1943 where Henry’s father Victor Newby (Michael Jibson) was a naval officer are just the most explosive, spectacular and jaw dropping illusions ever seen on the London stage.
It is no wonder that the audience for this production are teenagers, hooked on the Netflix series, who are now enthusing about theatre and encouraging their parents to buy tickets for this “must see” event at the Phoenix Theatre.
Henry discovers the dilapidated attic in their Hawkins house, adopts it as his room and Miriam Buether’s atmospheric set has it lit with a multitude of candles and with gaps in the rafters allowing sky views. The whole auditorium has been decorated in keeping with Stranger Things and the revolve creates a fluidity between scenes.
We first meet Henry being introduced to his new school as a typical, nervous and withdrawn newbie. Walter Henderson (Calum Ross) is his guide and we meet the usual high school stereotypes, the jocks, the cheerleaders and Joyce Maldonado who runs the drama club. Unusually when Henry has his ID photo taken, the camera seems to blow up.
There are issues in Hawkins when pets are found murdered and rumour and speculation fuel suspicion. Chief Hopper (Shane Attwooll) is in charge of the investigation. Patrick Vaill, whom we remember as a charismatic Jud Fry in Oklahoma, plays Dr Brenner who examines and monitors Henry’s condition. Henry’s mother Virginia Creel (Alex Young) entrusts him to the care of Dr Brenner. Dr Brenner has a key role in the final scene when One meets Eleven.
The performances are well honed and special mention has to be made of Louis McCartney’s vulnerable Henry as his psychopathic tendencies start to take over with a deep, penetrating voice and his amazing physical performance when he flies across the stage and runs round the auditorium shouting and screaming. There is DJ Walde’s music too recalling the Twilight Zone of 1950s television.
Those familiar with the four series of Stranger Things on Netflix will pick up the starting stories for many of the characters they recognise. The rest of us will appreciate The First Shadow for its stand-alone story but what you will come away with are the remarkable and exciting illusions. From Jamie Harrison and Chris Fisher there are visual illusions and effects; from 59 Productions video design and more visual effects. There are sinister white suited scientists with lit up helmets, shining torches, carrying Geiger counters, mingling with the audience; the shadowy reflections behind those with embryonic special gifts, the hazy, billowing coloured smoke effects and lightning and electricity with stunning lighting from Jon Clark.
It is the stupendous state of the art thrilling, special effects which make this stage play the inspiration, as to what can be achieved by director Stephen Daldry, for a younger generation of theatre goers.
Production Notes
Stranger Things
The First Shadow
Original Story The Duffer Brothers
Written by The Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne and Kate Trefry
Directed by Stephen Daldry and Co-Director Justin Martin
Cast
Starring:
Louis McCartney
Ella Karuna Williams
Isabella Pappas
Calum Ross
Alex Young
Matthew Pidgeon
Michael Jibson
Patrick Vaill
Shane Attwooll
Max Harwood
Oscar Lloyd
Christopher Buckley
With:
Ammar Duffus
Chase Brown
Samuel Baxter
Isaac Gryn
Tom Peters
Tricia Adele-Turner
Mark Hammersley
Danny Sykes
Lauren Arney
Kemi Awoderu
Reya-Nyomi Brown
Patricia Castro
Lydia Fraser
Florence Guy
Benjamin Lafayette
Maisie Norma Seaton
Kingdom Sibanda
Tiana Simone
Meesha Turner
Creatives
Directors: Stephen Daldry
and Justin Martin
Set Designer: Miriam Buether
Costume Designer: Brigitte Reiffenstuel
Lighting Designer: Jon Clark
Sound Designer: Paul Arditti
Composer, Orchestrator
and Musical Supervisor:
DJ Walde
Choreographer: Coral Messam
Movement: Lynne Page
Orchestrator: Paul Englishby
Information
Running Time: Three hours including an interval
Booking to 16th February 2025
Theatre:
Phoenix Theatre
Charing Cross Road
London WC2H 0JP
Box Office: 0333 009 6690
Website: uk.strangerthingsonstage.com
Tube: Tottenham Court Road
Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge
at the Phoenix Theatre on 6th June 2024
