The Haunting of Hill House @ Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh

In approaching Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel, it seems that this production, adapted by Stef Smith and directed by Martin Constantine, has forgotten the roots of the classic novel’s success: slow, unnerving unease, and the persistent threat of what could be round the corner. From the opening SFX jump scare, the audience is speared into fear – but rather than eking out our nerves, Johnny Edwards’ sound design uses repeated deafening ‘BAM’ and ‘THUD’ effects until the audience begins to resemble a flogged horse, close to death. From the opening ten minutes, most suspense is shot dead.

That’s not to say that the production isn’t without some victories. A stellar performance by Clancy Ryan as protagonist Eleanor demonstrates skilful dynamism in her portrayal of an evolving character, whilst lighting and projection design by Chris Davey provides a lush atmosphere for the characters to inhabit. Ti Green’s set, though gorgeous in appearance, unfortunately suffers from its own ambition of grandeur, betrayed by wobbling flats each time an actor closes a door.

Some tricks are excellently conjured, such as paranormal stage effects and swelling, grotesque transition scenes in which the house itself seems to churn and adapt in animated movement. However, too often these moments are overused or turned into gimmicks. A prime example are the show's possession scenes: striking, frightening visuals and stunning acting combine into effective images that are dragged out just long enough to lose their power.

Running under two hours and feeling somewhat whistle-stop in places, The Haunting of Hill House struggles to capture the lasting dread that Jackson’s novel deserves.

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The Haunting of Hill House, Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh, until 14 Nov, sold out