Cathy: A Retelling of Wuthering Heights is a misfire from student theatre company Brickhouse Theatre Company. Adapted from the Emily Brontë novel, Cathy attempts to emphasize the romantic tragedy of the original novel by stripping the plot down to focus on Heathcliff and Catherine, here dubbed Cathy. In fact, the show seems to be suffering from what many student productions simply cannot avoid sometimes: lack of experience.
Cathy is less of a reinterpretation than a barrage of “best of” moments from the original story. Much of these were lost simply because the actors could not be understood. Brontë’s beautifully-written dialogue is rendered incomprehensible by lack of enunciation. Overused flashbacks during the first act give audience members unfamiliar with the story a hard time following the plot’s timeline. Most alarmingly, the company’s lack of experience shines through with dangerous, sloppy staged combat.
Characters are introduced through throwaway lines rather than the usual emotional beats of growth seen in a much more developed show. The musical’s tone does not help as it’s as jumpy as the flashbacks. Cathy’s climactic death scene is immediately brushed over by Hindley’s “hilarious” solo about alcoholism and being generally awful. While we spend time getting to know Nelly, Edgar, and Hindley more than we need to in a show that’s supposed to be about Cathy and her lover, we hardly ever get to know either Heathcliff or the eponymous heroine or their respective loves for each other all.
It’s clear that there was a lot of work put into the production. The writer and director doubled as live music performer and actor, respectively. The show does have potentially fascinating elements, if underdeveloped. Costume design implies that the production probably had to scale back for the Fringe. Sashes removed lovingly by either Heathcliff and Cathy upon the other’s death remind us that yes, we are in fact supposed to care about these characters.
Cathy is a product of an overworked cast and crew that leaves the audience just as exhausted, if not more, than the students putting on the production must have been.