Gaslight - TNT

Written in 1938, Patrick Hamilton's psychological thriller is set firmly in the Victorian era when women of a certain class stayed home to take charge of the servants and didn't ask where their menfolk were going at night. Though very watchable, Peter Gill's revival lacks real menace as Andrew Woodall's sadistic Manningham accuses his wife of going mad and humiliates her in front of their insubordinate maid. Rosamund Pike's Bella has the fragile air of a woman born to be subjugated, and Kenneth Cranham's retired Detective Rough is an avuncular old codger with a twinkle in his eye and whisky in his pocket. Although structurally creaky, this oppressive melodrama exerts period fascination as the secrets of an unsolved murder, missing jewels and ominously flickering lamplight are revealed.
Old Vic, The Cut, SE1, 0870-060 6628. Until August 18. £17.50-£50