Review: MURDER AT MIDNIGHT, UK Tour
Pamela Raith
Murder at Midnight is a character-driven murder mystery/ thriller/comedy that has so many twists and turns along its snappy 110 minute runtime, your neck will be thankful when the curtains close. What starts out as a relatively paint-by-numbers whodunnit soon descends into an abundance of slapstick and farce that keeps the audience not only roaring with laughter but wondering as to where the evening will end up.
Original Theatre, known for Murder in the Dark, brings us a new touring production. The story centres on Johnny 'The Cyclops' Drinkwater, played with undiluted committal by Jason Durr, who is attempting to pull off yet another dodgy deal in Barbados whilst dealing with his suspicious girlfriend and aging mother. Not to be outdone is Paul, the overwhelmed policeman who is trying to solve a murder and woo Johnny's girlfriend Lisa at the same time. Of course, everything does not quite pan out the way you would expect. Many supporting characters with their own stories are interwoven into the narrative with varying degrees of success. As the evening progresses, secrets and lies are outed and tensions boil over as the climax nears. In the background, the clock is ticking to midnight as the audience are fully aware that this is when the juiciest of action takes place, as the show begins with a crime scene being attended, then cleverly reverses and clues us all in as to how we got there.
Torben Betts has crafted a remarkable script that is not only zippy with its pacing but also sharp and fast with the jokes. Attentively directed by Phillip Francis, a moments rest is never on the cards as the story flits from room to room, aided by a fantastically modern set utilising all three rooms on separate levels that fills the vast Churchill stage. At times both a throwback to the farce days but spliced with modern references and techniques, Murder at Midnight feels a tribute to the bygone days of British stage comedy whilst retaining its own identity.
A show is nothing without its cast and Murder at Midnight has a wonderful ensemble that each helps to move the story forward whilst knowing how to retain their own arcs simultaneously. Max Bowden is a highlight playing against type as the bumbling, incompetent Paul, whilst Susie Blake shows her years of experience as the anchor on stage, tightly hitting her marks and adding a sense of believability to proceedings.
Sometimes, theatre doesn't have to be political or intelligent to entertain, it just needs a few ingredients baked together to have an impact. Murder at Midnight has all the elements to do just that, a willing cast plus a story that keeps the audience entertained and quizzical make this a strong addition to Original Theatres inventive repertoire. Of course some things can be improved, the second act feels more rushed than the first, plus the pacing tends to feel somewhat misjudged as a lot of plot points are crammed into the final half an hour. However the positives more than make up for the few hiccups. A fantastic cast, sharp script and clever staging helps elevate Murder at Midnight into a thoroughly enjoyable night at the theatre.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by James Springthorpe
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