Gaslight
by Patrick Hamilton

Name: Gaslight
Brand: Patrick Hamilton
SKU: 9780573115790
Rating: 3.99 (870 reviews)

Highlights

Small Cast

Female

Male

120 minsVictorian (British and American)Unit Set/Multiple SettingsPeriod CostumesBritish Mystery

What readers are saying

Readers are captivated by the intricate psychological manipulation depicted in the play. Many appreciate its relevance to modern themes of emotional abuse and the origins of the term 'gaslighting'. The writing is often described as powerful and engaging, drawing readers into the tense atmosphere. While some note it has its shortcomings compared to adaptations, the overall response is overwhelmingly positive.

Intriguing psychological themesWell-written and engagingCaptivating and tense atmosphereRelevant to modern audiencesSome prefer the film adaptation

Synopsis

This classic Victorian thriller was first produced in 1935.

Jack Manningham is slowly, deliberately driving his wife, Bella, insane.

He has almost succeeded when help arrives in the form of a former detective, Rough, who believes Manningham to be a thief and murderer.

Aided by Bella, Rough proves Manningham's true identity and finally Bella achieves a few moments of sweet revenge for the suffering inflicted on her.

Press Reviews

"Streamlined… compelling entertainment… A portrait of courage in the face of evil… Gaslight is a psychological thriller, but there are frequent moments of levity… There could hardly be a more fitting time for a play entitled Gaslight, given that we are now living in a world that asks us to bend reality to suit our own cultural and political beliefs rather than to believe what we see and hear with our own eyes and ears."
— Theater Mirror

"Mr. Dietz’s interpretation of the story is an excellent one. He has managed to make it more concise without losing the impact of the story itself… While the original text has been around since the 1930s, Gaslight remains timeless for two very different reasons: in many ways, its message was very much ahead of its time and, unfortunately, psychological abuse still exists. Fortunately, Mr. Dietz’s script has enough light in this dark tale to pull us out of the shadows rather adeptly as we are reminded there is hope in the most bleak of hours."
— Katrina Reynolds, League of Cincinnati Theatres

"A captivating psychological thriller… Transforming the 1938 play by Patrick Hamilton (and the acclaimed 1940 movie of the same name), playwright Steven Dietz has crafted a revealing look at power dynamics of a marriage and how far someone would go for personal gain… this is a show that will engage your brain."
— Liz Eichler, League of Cincinnati Theatres

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
MRS. MANNINGHAM (BELLA) 35, attractive, attentive, unsettled	female	—	35, attractive, attentive, unsettled
MR. MANNINGHAM (JACK) 45, charming, handsome, secretive	male	—	45, charming, handsome, secretive
ELIZABETH 50s, the senior maid, stout, direct, loyal	female	50s	50s, the senior maid, stout, direct, loyal
NANCY 19, the young maid, pretty, sassy, bold	female	—	19, the young maid, pretty, sassy, bold
SERGEANT ROUGH 60s, British, buoyant, clever, relentless	—	60s	60s, British, buoyant, clever, relentless
POLICE OFFICERS	—	—	—