There’s a deliciously twisted and gothic premise to this two-hander by Frazier Bailey. Struggling actor Sidney has started offering ‘husband-experience’ gigolo gigs, but when he bowls up (late and drunk) to his latest client Lauren’s door he finds himself with more than he bargained for. Lauren’s fiancée has passed away (mysteriously, ‘in the river’) and she would like Sidney to stand in for him at their wedding in a fortnight’s time, with which she is still ploughing ahead. 

It’s a wonderful set-up, and Bailey’s script in its early stages is tantalisingly brittle with spare, awkward exchanges. But as the story progresses it loses its way, unsure of the path it wants to tread between empathetic grief drama and psychological horror, and it doesn’t lean far enough into either to make for a satisfying climax. There are plot beats that come out of nowhere, and Sidney’s character in particular feels unconvincing in his gullibility to whatever Lauren is scheming. 

This isn’t helped by Bailey’s direction, which draws performances from Brooklyn Boukather and Daniel Barney Newton that flip between naturalistic and melodramatic, rather than blending the two into the unified strangeness which that title promises. There’s du Maurier-esque potential here, but it all rather feels undercooked. 

Strangewife, Assembly Rooms, until 24 August, 7.45pm; main picture: Forrest Flanders.