The Haunting of Hill House opens in Watlington on 14th Feb 2007, valentines day. "Oh no!" I hear you scream, but my partner will never forgive me if I cancel her/his Valentines Day treat to catch a play.
O contraire! What could be a better way to spend such an evening than cuddling up to your loved one as she (or he!) cowers from the terrors of Hill House. We all love a scare, and after all scary films make the best date films, do they not?
Be assured it'll make for a refreshing change, and certainly a most memorable night!

      The Haunting of Hill House has been made into 2 films, both entitled just The Haunting. The first (The Haunting, 1963) was a well respected effort by director Robert Wise, which closely followed the intentions of the book, the second (1999 remake) had very little at all to do with it's source novel.
The play is closer than either film to the novel, and so what we are aiming to create on stage is as accurate and frightening as possible a realisation of Jackson's iconic and, in more ways than one, haunting tale.      

  The 'B-company' is a branch of the Watlington players angled towards less 'main-stream' productions, independent projects that might otherwise not fit so easily into the calendar.
  Past B-Company productions have included "Disappeared" by Phyllis Nagy, a challenging piece about a missing girl and her suspected abductor, "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead", a comedy by Tom Stoppard revolving around 2 peripheral characters from Shakespeare's Hamlet, and Mort based on the discworld novel by Terry Pratchett,

     The Haunting of Hill House, based on the novel by Shirley Jackson (widely regarded a masterpiece of horror writing), is a good old fashioned ghost story. It is the story of a scientist named Dr. Montague who sets about trying to prove the existence of ghosts by conducting an experiment in the most reportedly haunted house he can find.
He agrees a short lease for Hill House and invites guests with unique insights into the paranormal whom he believes will help to conjure up the various forces at work in the house. His plan succeeds....
.... a little too well!

a fantastical comedy about Death seeking an apprentice to learn the grim reaping trade.
   The B-Company aims to be a valuable outlet for players members to express themselves and to realise personal projects, and indeed it has proven so in the past, it's productions having been warmly received and ranked amongst the Watlington Players finest and most unique work.

NODA Report
The Haunting of Hill House: The Watlington Players. (B Company)
Director: Matt Austin.
This production by B Company was no mean feat; indeed it was all the more remarkable considering Nicola Henry took on the role of Theodora with only three weeks to curtain up. Another simple but stunningly effective set from Watlington; creating a spooky claustrophobic atmosphere. Good use of furniture and dressing; subtle background music to heighten the psychological fears and gloomy lighting set the scene for this horror thriller.
Excellent performances from the quartet of leading characters; Megan Abbott (Eleanor), Nicola Henry (Theodora), Matt Kerslake (Luke) and Matt Austin (Montague) were well supported by the rest of the cast. Pace and projection were of a very high standard as was the lighting which we have come to take for granted at Watlington. Movement was good though occasionally some characters were masked as in the chess games which may have been better set at a slight angle.
I felt that the gentlemen should have had at least a couple of costume changes, but these minor points aside this was a stunning piece of drama underpinned by one of the best sound effects design I’ve ever heard.
Congratulations Jake Leathley-Andrew (sound), I have not seen an audience so frightened since watching “Jaws”.

        Jim Farr.
        
        19th February 2008