Heart-pounding terror endures thoughout Gnaw
A strong stomach for horror and a passion for psychological thrillers are recommended for attending A.N. Myer’s skin crawling production of Gnaw, a chilling twist on a classic Brothers Grimm fairytale.
Written by a talented Queen’s University student, Sean Meldrum, Gnaw is a fractured fairytale that completely shatters our childhood memory of Hansel and Gretel. The two siblings are now adolescents, facing the trials of an impoverished society that is in the midst of a devastating famine. Their father, Bullpig, is forced to join a band of thieves and killers in order to sustain his family, and their mother, Eedee, is slowly deteriorating mentally. Add in a child-eating witch that is rumoured to roam the woods and you have a recipe for disaster. Can the family survive this harrowing ordeal?
Despite being small in number, the cast excellently conveyed true suffering and insanity to the audience. A smaller cast meant more stage time and thus increased pressure on the actors, but they sustained full intensity throughout the performance.
Ron Dempsey deserves special mention for his contributions both on and off the stage. Dempsey’s portrayal of the loving, yet terrifying Bullpig was nothing short of pure talent. His incredible ability to maintain facial expressions and voice projection gave the audience goosebumps in every line he delivered. Behind the scenes, the talented actor was also the stage manager and single-handedly created the puppetry used throughout the play.
Jessica Danecker’s performance was genuinely unsettling and true to her character as the unstable Eedee. From bloodcurdling laughter to the unblinking, distressed look in her eyes, Danecker compellingly depicted the behaviour of a maniacal, cold-hearted mother bent only on self-preservation.
The roles of the siblings were played by Kristian Jamieson as Hansel and Chelsea Toews as Gretel, both of whom were outstanding as their respective characters. Jamieson’s skillful acting left the audience pitying Hansel’s helpless nature as the weakling of his family. On the other hand, Toews’ ferocity and voice expression brought Gretel’s strong determination and violent nature to life.
The cast and crew showed incredible creativity through their use of shadow puppetry to enhance the horror factor throughout the play. The witch projected in shadow through a screen was a particularly effective technique that sent a spine-tingling chill down the audience’s backs.
Perhaps the most intriguing factor of the production was the presence of live sound effects which were produced off stage, in close range of the audience. Whether it was the ear-splitting crash of thunder or the menacing growls of wild animals, Elijah Glasgow and Sarah Harmer created an aura of suspense and terror.
All in all, A.N. Myer’s production of Gnaw will you leave your heart pounding and your hands gripping the edge of your seats. See this show — if you dare.