REVIEW: The Monkey’s Paw at The Hope Theatre

Reviewed by: Bridget Whitford
Photo Credit: Cam Harle

Three Words: Classical. Conventional. Underwhelming

Best Thing: The peeling of the skin from the doll’s face

Watch if you feel like: Taking a trip back to past eras and historical periods

How the audience reacted: Reactions were muted; there wasn’t much thrill or amazement generated by the production

If I could change one thing: There are many areas I would refine, but most importantly, the emotional moments need real gravitas and nuance

Lighting: Functional overall, but in moments when actors were alone on stage, they were sometimes obscured, which diminished the intended intimacy and focus

Set/Costume: The design effectively evokes the period and makes good use of the space. However, the frequent miming undercut the impact of the physical design

Acting: Steven Maddocks and Josephine Rogers had moments of convincing performance, but these were inconsistent. Given the play’s heavy themes — loss of children, grief, delusion, war, and financial hardship — many moments were skimmed over, leaving key emotional beats unfulfilled

Writing: The Monkey’s Paw remains a classic story, but this adaptation doesn’t clearly justify a modern retelling. While elements like the cost-of-living references resonate, the narrative ultimately wraps up too neatly. The ending feels magically resolved, lacking the moral weight or tension one might expect

Directing: It’s clear that Leah Townley and the whole Infinite Space Team are passionate about this story, but the direction lacks clarity. Actors often seem unsure of which moments to emphasize, and the production never fully realizes its potential to deliver a satisfying or impactful experience

Overall: Not a bad production, but nothing particularly remarkable. There are sparks of intrigue and craftsmanship, but the show falls short of leaving a lasting impression

My review in emojis: 👻🕰️😐😞

Diamond Rating (out of 5): 💎💎💎

Runs until: 8 November
Tickets can be bought at: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/thehopetheatre/e-xovmad