Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Gamm’s newest show is the U.S. premiere of “The Night Watch”, Hattie Naylor’s adaptation of Sarah Water’s bestselling novel. It is the poignant story of liberation and loss set against the disorienting backdrop of the Second World War. It’s bursting with secrets and illicit affairs, “The Night Watch” moves backward in time through the 1940’s into the frenzy of the Blitz. Like an emotional detective story, the play follows the intertwined history of five young Londoners as they unfold in surprising ways. Director Tony Estrella says “Waters has created a stunning feat of reverse engineering. Starting in 1947 amid the rubble-strewn aftermath of the war, her story and Naylor’s adaptation unfold between the German blitzes of 1944 and 1941. This story is a love story, a tale of resistance, and a powerful, welcome reminder of the need for decency and compassion in hard times. As a result the tale’s heartbreaking end shines ironically like a beacon of hope.” The war with its never ending night watches serves as a reminder of the morbidity that surrounds life and love. The show is divided into three acts and is a series of vignettes. Director Tony Estrella casts powerful performers in these roles with some of them playing dual roles. He makes them delve into these complex characters and gives each of them their moment to shine in this show. The most exhilarating scenes are the ambulance rescue scene with Kay as well as the house collapsing onstage burying one of the performers.

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