Ivories
In recent times cinemas seem to have captured the market in horror. With millions of pounds spent on special effects it’s hard to imagine how a play stands any chance. Still, performing at The Old Red Lion Theatre in Islington gives you the creepy upstairs-parlour effect.
As the room is plunged into darkness our show begins with thunder, lightning and a flickering light bulb – we are in the home of Slone’s dying grandma, who we never see. We are soon to find out that Slone, a playwriter is in a drama triangle of their own – triggered by the recent death of their own mother, her grandmother’s impending death, and a house that seems to oose death. Slone lurches from dramatic scene to dramatic scene as we are left asking are these for real or are they for their new play?
Slone (played by Ivories writer Ripley Elton McCarthy) comes across as quite manic from the first moments we see her – so much so that some of her lines are lost even in the small venue like the Old Red Lion. A few more lightning flashes and light bulb flashes and enter, in the dark, husband, Gwyn (Matthias Hardarson). Things are obvious not brilliant between them, but he’s there for Sloane. Finally, they are joined by “friend”, Beckham (Daniel Neil) – who’s already sizing up Grandma’s house ready for the inevitable sale. So, what could possibly could go wrong? Well, this is a horror and McCarthy throws everything at it – including oddly behaving neighbours, dodgy basements, a love triangle and a girl eating dog!
To their credit the cast give it their all. They deliver their lines with confidence and intensity. The trouble is I just can’t invest; the work is cliché after cliché. In the middle of this horror, my biggest fear is that one of the cast might fall over in one of the – far too many – full blackouts! As the works descends to its finale even the blackouts can’t save where it is going! I won’t spoil it for you, but even with an intelligent sound design by Adam Lenson and interesting lighting choices by Skylar Turnbull-Hurd this play suggests that horror works best in the cinema.
This show was reviewed on the 4th July 2025 at The Old Red Lion Theatre, London where it runs until the 26th July 2026. Tickets available here: Ivories
Review written by Paul Wood
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Photo credit : Abbie Sage & Milda Martisi
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