The spookiest theatre in town is currently being haunted by three women who all “mysteriously” drowned in their bathtubs. Directed by Wren Theatre’s founder Tatum Lee, and produced in association with Rhyno Equity Group, The Drowning Girls is a darkly funny yet tragic true tale brought to life on the Red Sandcastle Theatre’s stage. A beautifully aesthetic set design, fantastic performances, and an emphasis on the eerie, The Drowning Girls is a terrifying ghost story brought to life.

The Drowning Girls, written by Beth Graham, Charlie Tomlinson & Daniela Vlaskalic, is based on the real lives of three women who were all married to, and killed by, the same conman. The play details the striking similarities between the women’s deaths, while also telling the whirlwind stories of their love affairs with their husbands. Interjected amongst the heartbreak are these wickedly funny scenes which help us better understand the women’s situations and how absurd many of their Victorian conventions feel to us now. These moments of laughter are essential to the story, as they allow us the release of emotion we’ve built up from the harrowing tales told immediately prior. This production leans into the fact that this is a ghost story, and that even these ghosts have a ghost of their own haunting them in their afterlife. Lee’s vision for telling this story is clear and tenacious, every detail from the performances to the design, come together to create an unforgettable experience.

It’s amazing to see how the Red Sandcastle has been transformed for this production; they use the space in a unique way and had a cohesive vision for each design element. The fact that the whole set was black and white, save for their blue flowers and some rust on the sides of the tubs, made the performance feel like an old horror film. The lace curtains give this feminine feel to the set, yet somehow also felt foreboding and eerie. The costumes are entirely white as well, and I appreciated the attention to detail; I’m sure it cannot be comfortable to be soaking wet AND in a corset with underthings underneath and a dress on top! However, their whited out eyes were by far the most terrifying aspect of the costume design; it took me a while to fall asleep that night with those haunting faces still fresh in my memory.

The Drowning Girls is told by three talented actors who give exceptional performances. Amanda D’Souza, Vikki Velenosi, and Adrianna Prosser take on the roles of not only the three drowned wives, but also several other side characters along the way; their seamless changes between these characters a testament to their talent. D’Souza brought an innocence and sweetness to her characters which I really enjoyed; you could totally understand how such a sweet young lady was easily swept off her feet. Velenosi has a similar naiveté, but where she shines even more brightly is in the comedic sections of the play; she has a fabulous sway of being able to be both spooky and silly all at the same time. Prosser’s grace and elegance come through in every aspect of her performance, and I loved that she, along with the other actors, gets to show off her beautiful signing voice! The chemistry of this cast is excellent, and while they’re certainly scary, they’re also a total joy to watch.

The Drowning Girls will stick with you long after you’ve left the theatre. You simply must experience it for yourself! The Drowning Girls runs until November 12th at the Red Sandcastle Theatre. For more information and tickets, visit: https://wren-theatre.ticketleap.com/the-drowning-girls/dates

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Cover photo by Moriah Campbell

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