Touring – until 4 December 2021
Reviewed at Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
Guest reviewer: Heather Chalkley
How many ways can you prevent people from leaving a solitary village set by an eerie swamp?
The inhabitants of Sleepy Hollow have dark secrets they do not want outsiders to know about. Anyone who visits is unlikely to leave, alive or dead. That is until Ichabod Crane (Sam Jackson) arrives, with the purpose to reveal the truth that underlies their macabre history. Will he survive? Will his logic outwit the legend and witchcraft that the village is steeped in?
So many questions to keep you engaged in this new iteration of an ancient legend. Although the actors apply their craft with commitment and skill, you are left sometimes confused and not clear by the script.
At times the dialect is spoken at a speed which takes concentration to follow. Your attention can wane when the sometimes high-pitched dialogue of Widow Papenfuss (Wendi Peters) accosts your ears. I was left cold, not with fright but with boredom.
A good attempt to bring a new slant to the ancient legend. However, the script needs clarity to bring the audience with them.
