Theatre Review: Snake in the Grass

Neptune Theatre’s latest production of Alan Ayckbourn’s Snake In The Grass is a hilariously dark delight, perfectly timed for our spookiest time of year. Under the skillful direction of Ann-Marie KerrSnake In The Grass lures the audience onto the set of an abandoned estate, beset by age and decay. Arriving into this eerie setting is Annabel (Liz Richardson) who is drawn back home after thirty years, following the recent passing of her father. Annabel barely has a moment to collect herself before she meets Alice (Stephanie MacDonald), her father’s former nurse, who (according to Alice) has been wrongfully dismissed by Annabel’s father. To exacerbate matters, Alice alleges that Annabel’s estranged sister/recent caretaker Miriam (Geneviève Steele) is responsible for her father’s death, and attempts to blackmail the pair with some rather damning evidence. Upon meeting the rather eccentric and unstable Miriam, this accusation suddenly seems all too plausible.

Together, MacDonald, Steele, and Richardson are a dazzling combination; each performance is nuanced and imbued with perfect comedic timing that rides the highs of a comedy, stopping just shy of farcical territory. Richardson’s Annabel (my personal favourite) personifies classic British humour – her portrayal of Annabel marries deadpan delivery with comic bite, making her a perfect counterbalance to the zany, unpredictable foil that is her sister. Steele, alternatively, embraces the chaotic nature of Miriam with restraint; she aptly conveys her character’s less scrupulous and unhinged side, making Miriam a little crazy but not crazy to the point of disbelief. Lastly, MacDonald provides the catalyst to the play’s sense of urgency, melding together humour with the power to destroy a family.

All told, Snake In The Grass is the freshest production Neptune Theatre has offered in a long while; it thrives due to the powerhouse performances of its leads, and by boasting two compelling acts that balance the lightest and darkest aspects of theatre. If you’re looking for a show that will delight, haunt, and genuinely surprise you, look no further than this.

Neptune Theatre‘s presentation of Snake in the Grass is on now through Sunday, November 5th; tickets are available online or at their box office (902-429-7070), at 1593 Argyle Street.

Image above, L-R: Liz Richardson, Geneviève Steele and Stephanie MacDonald. All photos credited to Allan Zilkowsky.

About the author

Carey Bray

Carey Bray is a local artist, actor/director, and writer residing in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. He's also a theatre critic for The Coast, and has previously written reviews and interviews for The Coast's Halifax Fringe Festival, Atlantic Books Today, and the online blog, Hello Dartmouth. You'll find more of Carey's work on his blog, Sitting Ovation.