‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ by Kate Trefry
9 August 2024
When it launched in 2016 ‘Stranger Things’ - the Duffer Brothers’ homage to 1980s sci-fi/horror films - was the first big breakout hit made by the Netflix streaming platform. I loved ‘Stranger Things’ (reviewed here in August 2016 and November 2017) so I was excited to learn that the new stage version of the show was to premiere in London’s West End. Last Saturday we were at the Phoenix Theatre to see ‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ written by Kate Trefry from an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne and Kate Trefry, directed by Stephen Daldry. When it opened last year the play got a glowing 5-star review in The Guardian but only 2-stars in The Times: I felt it sat somewhere between these extremes. It is certainly a spectacular theatrical experience which starts with a stunning opening scene set on a US Navy ship in 1943, showing off the amazing set design by Miriam Buether, lighting by Jon Clark, (deafening) sound by Paul Arditti and visual effects by Jamie Harrison, Chris Fisher and 59 Productions. After this prologue the action of the play is set in 1959, acting as a prequel to the TV series and featuring some of the adult characters in the original (including Joyce and Hopper) as teenagers. Deciding to base the stage version around the preparations for a high school drama production was a nice idea but ended up feeling like a distraction from the main plot. And focusing purely on teenage characters lost some of the charm and humour of the gang of younger children who were the main protagonists of the TV series. Like the later episodes of season 4 ‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ was incredibly long (more than 3 hours) and very loud. The stage effects were jaw dropping but tended to squeeze out the plot and acting. This is definitely a show for existing fans: it was noticeable that the biggest cheer from the audience was for the first appearance of the ‘Stranger Things’ theme tune and credit sequence.
posted by Robin Simpson @ 11:32 am
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