A Warning To The Curious: Part of the MR James Trilogy Wednesday 20th January until Monday 8th February 2010 @ The Brewery, Bristol Over the past twelve months, Robert Lloyd Parry has brought two shows based on the ghost stories of MR James to the Tobacco Factory Theatre; Oh, Whistle and A Pleasing Terror. Both nights were sell-outs. They went so well, in fact, that he has since been invited back and for the next three weeks you can watch Lloyd Parry every night at The Brewery; an opportunity to experience MR James’ A Warning To The Curious at its most intimate and spine-chilling best. The Brewery’s theatre space lends itself perfectly to this show. The scale of the Tobacco Factory’s main auditorium meant Lloyd Parry was lost somewhat within it’s wide walls and you too, one within an audience of 250, but in the Brewery, a theatre with a capacity of 70, you are practically standing on Lloyd Parry’s toes, on his fingertips, in the palm of his hand. You are so close you can smell the candles burning, you can read the names on the spines of the books scattered around him and, most importantly, you are so close you can see every glint in his eye, every nuance of emotion in his face and body and are able to truly appreciate the masterful performance he gives. He draws you in with nothing but a classical English delivery, a good set (a worn-out leather armchair, brandy glasses and books, dully illuminated by candlelight) and a good story but you’re hooked. It takes something really special to get your heart racing with such a simple set up but A Warning To The Curious manages it every time; was there something in the shadows there or was that just a trick of the light? It is a wonderful show: A testament to the power of the spoken-word, the one-man show and the permanence of the works of MR James. www.tobaccofactorytheatre.com
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