Imagine your neighbours admitting that they’re into drugs. It’s the tail end of a sem-awkward dinner party (every dinner party?), and now they’re keen to share.
Your partner is enthusiastic about it. You are not.
Imagine if your friendly neighbours are keen for your partner to continue to explore this new and shared world. Are your neighbours enthusiastic amateurs, or are the professionals trying to spread the allure?
Sycamore Grove is not about drugs. It’s about black magic.
I rocked up to the Bedlam Theatre on the offer of a show about a weird dinner party, and as the details unfolded, I quirked a smile because I had almost worn my King in Yellow t-shirt. That is one of the books that inspired this whole genre. Instead, I wore a t-shirt from this year’s The Data Lab conference on artificial intelligence. The front of the t-shirt says, “AI will Support us”, and the back “AI will Destroy us”. As it happens, the same debate could apply to ritual magic. Will it support us or destroy us?
As Sycamore Grove plays out in its minimalist way with four actors (two pairs of hetero-normal and presumed husband and wives), two points of paint and some chairs, we can see that one couple is prosperous thanks to their rituals. Will the other couple get there?
Or is this a trainwreck? Our empathy character, the artist who likes pictures of trees, isn’t keen, and we see some level-headed and increasingly frantic attempts to have adult conversations about addiction and danger.
Tone
Sycamore Grove is a horror. It’s a suburban horror that I imagine a hot-shot director and a movie star looking for a Sundance Film Festival award could turn into a fantastic movie.
I think Slainte! Theatre does a great job, too. Even from the outset, when all four actors are in a straight line facing the audience, and each takes turns to deliver lines, just when you might worry the whole play will be arty and pretentious, you don’t worry because the delivery is that good.
It’s… magic?
It’s a subtle horror. There are no jump scares. There are some loud noises, but no other trick; those noises are weird rather than sudden.
Despite the magic, Sycamore Grove feels real. There is pressure to keep up with the neighbours. You might have friends that you wonder why you still call friends. Success in life can’t give you children, but you still might feel the urge to contribute to a relationship through it. You might not want kids.
None of this would be compelling without some stellar performances. It would be easy to raise the volume a bit too much, be angry rather than worn down, or be deadpan, and then there should just be dead acceptance. All four skillfully avoided all the traps and hit all the notes.
You may be triggered.
What to expect
The Bedlam Theatre is cosy and comfortable. You should get a good seat, with a view of the stage, and volume should be no problem.
There are no flashing lights, haze or anything else I noticed that might make you feel uncomfortable… except, of course, the creepy tension of Sycamore Grove.
As noted, this is a minimalist performance, but it should hold your attention. It did mine!
The name Sycamore Grove makes me think of words like druid and pagan, of old forests and nature spirits. However, this play channels Lovecraft without mentioning the old racist by name. Good.
Black magic is mainly represented by patterns and glyphs that slowly take over the background. There’s the occasional ritual, but this is done by closing your eyes and standing in a row. There’s never any blood or knives, no altar or idol. It doesn’t need such props.
Overall
Give me a cheer for dark magic! What fun.
Sycamore Grove is a compelling ride. It’s like a ‘fun house’ ride that once you’re seated, you’re trapped until the battered old car you’re in reaches the end. Also, like a fun house, you might think it’s silly at first, only for the trip to get even more creepy.
Unlike the fun house ride, nothing jumps out at you except your conclusions as you determine what will happen next.
Sycamore Grove is a spooky success, making me think about what exactly the team did to guarantee it would be a success.
A review of Sycamore Grove
Summary
Sycamore Grove is a thrilling, spooky journey into the world of dark magic and neighbours that will keep you guessing and entertained until the very end.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
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