“Agatha’s presence as the oldest sister and matriarch of the house was commanding and often frightening. Her sternness, dark costuming, and restrained physicality portrayed an aura of control and power.

Richards expertly walked the line between fierce, impenetrable anger and flashes of emotional vulnerability, particularly in brief moments of solitude. 

Richards’ and Sarkis’ chemistry as Agatha and Emilie was a highlight of the production as they moved through the development of their relationship from mistress and governess to lovers caught up in a terrible scheme. The actresses transitioned effortlessly from anger and fear to passion and desire, building a strong tension that felt tangible in the theater. Their portrayal of female desire was full of force and moral ambiguity as they came together in a plan to forcefully create an heir with Agatha’s imprisoned elder brother, asking questions of how far female power can go within an oppressive patriarchal system.

…

Within the captivating world of the stage and the strong performances of the actors, the play’s depth and strangeness emerged. The dynamic composition of powerful feelings of love, anger, and desire struggling to be expressed was spoken and felt, pushing at the walls of the house upon the moors.”