Dinner Theatres are the most enjoyable immersive way to experience a play. Having attended many of these productions by the Centenary Theatre Group before, I knew it would be an entertaining and fun night out,but with this London based supernatural thriller they excelled!

 

The spring heeled terror was known as Spring-heeled Jack in Victorian English times. He has a mythical status similar to that of Jack the Ripper, but with paranormal abilities. Tales of Jack, are predecessor to slender man based on a several cases and perpetuated in the Penny Satire comics. This spring heeled terror first “sprung up” in 1837 wearing a black cloak over a helmet and a skin tight outfit. He was known to leap over buildings to attack and frighten unsuspecting victims with red piercing eyes, long claws and a beastly breath of blue flames. The reign of terror although starting in the poorer East end of London spread as far as Liverpool with sightings 1904. These ghostly supernatural attacks terrified Londoners so much the Lord Mayor at the time John Cowan attempted to assure residents of their safety with the involvement of police from Scotland Yard.

 

London residents would not have been reassured if Chief Inspector Walter Beaver (Nick Cockcroft) had been on the case. Beaver is a bumbling self-important bobby who cannot recognise Jack as the terror he seeks, even when he is caught in a graveyard terrorising lascivious lovers. However, he is always ready to break into song at the most inappropriate times, stirring up the audience with his cockney banter. 

 

The large cast of twelve all join in with this music hall approach to the production with the sweet lilting voice of the gentleman’s entertainer Pearly Blossom (Sophie Salvesani) and a belly dancing Tilly Pond (Jessica Wake). Even Jack Jack as he calls himself, croons a few haunting songs after a comical suicide attempt to get the audience on his side and instead booing against the real terror of the night Dr Richard Blakeley (Robert Morgan). 

 

Audience participation abounds in true pantomime style with encouragement to boo the baddie Dr Blakely and cheer the goodies. Robert Morgan playing Dr Blakely delighted in the hissing as he stalked around the tables as the fabulous musical accompaniment whipped the audience into a frenzy of hatred causing audience heckling which was very amusing to all.

 

The satirical and visual humour excelled as the characters were hammed up with fine precision. Jacob Wessel was played brilliantly by Daniel Medda, as the Egor-like hunched assistant. He had the audience choking on their chocolate coffins as he fumbled with the secret door behind a bookcase showering victims in books each time he frantically tried to hide a body. His sideways glances towards the audience and the evil Dr Blakely and the well timed shrugs of comical acquiescent submissiveness were hilarious and endearing.

 

The Spring Heeled Terror of Stepney Green is a supernatural music-hall comedy wrapped around three courses of food with a British horror theme. Fortunately, there were no jellied eels, instead there was a bloody soup of tomato, pie and mash with a side of blood (ketchup) and a chocolate coffin in a sea of strawberry blood which was a great gory touch. This dinner theatre production is not to missed leaving the audience with a spring in their step!

 

By Dr Gemma Regan 

 

Catch the The Spring Heeled Terror of Stepney Green at the Chelmer Community Centre on 5th, 6th and 12th of August 2017