THE SIGNALMAN by Charles Dickens at Wilton's Music Hall 29 June - 1 July, 3 September
‘Alnwick plays the crowd with delight and gusto’ ★★★ ½
As it’s the World Cup it is quite apt that this is literally ‘a show of two halves’ - both of them full of attacking flair but perhaps not a fully satisfying and coherent 90 minutes.
The Signalman is one of Charles Dickens’ most beloved ghostly short stories and has been performed widely on stage and as a radio play. Master illusionist and mentalist David Alnwick has had a long time fascination with ghosts and ghostly goings on - and with Dickens. It’s a little known fact that Charles Dickens himself once toured as a necromancer and, in the fittingly gorgeous surroundings of Wilton’s Music Hall, it seems apt that an evening of Victorian magic and storytelling can and will come together.
Alnwick - unknown to me before this show - is a fascinating character. With clear nods to the great Derren Brown, he is a confident and assured performer who plays his audience as, by turns, learned confidantes and complete idiots. Dressed himself as something of a Dickensian street performer, his suitcase of tricks confound and delight for the first hour as playing cards levitate, random facts and connections are derived with that air of ‘this isn’t quite going right’ when, in fact, of course it’s part of the show. Alnwick plays the crowd with delight and gusto - all really good stuff.
The final third of the evening sees our showman double down on this love of ghost stories and, with the aid of some clever lighting and mildly bombastic but engaging delivery, the tale of The Signalman and the spooky apparition who has been haunting him unfolds. The story builds slowly but precisely and Alnwick holds his crowd throughout bringing Dicken’s vivid language to life.
Alnwich sets up the connection between Dickens, magic, the Victorian era and the story really nicely and yet the evening always feels like the aforementioned ‘show of two halves’. This is fine but for a smart guy performing an oft presented show, maybe Alnwick could weave these halves together to form a more clearly defined whole. His storytelling is consummate albeit that one is never really ‘scared’ and the ending feels a little underwhelming, But, this a talented performer giving the audience a good value night out - maybe not Premier League but certainly a top tier Championship offering.
THE SIGNALMAN
An evening of Victorian illusions and ghost stories with occult illusionist David Alnwick
at Wilton Music Hall, 29 June - 1 July, 3 September
BOX OFFICE The Signalman - Wilton's Music Hall
