Review | Murder In The Dark is a fun evening of modern Grand Guignol, full of B-movie hokum and jump scares
Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The often lost secret of crafting a good review of any theatre production is the ability to say everything the reader needs to know while giving nothing away. 'No spoilers' in the popular vernacular. When faced with a thriller like Murder In The Dark, that becomes even more vital and, as with the famous whodunnit, The Mousetrap, there's an appeal in the programme not to spoil the evening's entertainment for future audiences - 'Spread the word (but not the spoilers)' request producers, Original Theatre Company.
So here goes, let’s give you as much detail without giving too much away. Described as a 'spine-tingling ghost story', Murder In The Dark is a spooky tale of broken dreams, estranged family members reunited and a whole lot of love and regret.
Set in the obligatory remote cottage miles away from anywhere, one owned by a strange, all-knowing old retainer, naturally, the tale also boasts a devil dog, bad weather, a disturbing nursery rhyme... and a ballet dancer on the toilet!
At the heart of this eclectic mix of ‘supernatural’ tropes is anguished, ageing pop star Danny Sierra, played with all the heightened angst and self pity he can muster by Holby City and Casualty favourite, Tom Chambers.
It’s New Year’s Eve, when a car crash on a deserted road brings the famous but troubled singer and his dysfunctional family to the isolated holiday cottage and, from the moment they arrive, a sequence of inexplicable events begin to occur.
Then the lights go out.
As tensions rise and deeply buried secrets come to light, nothing is quite as it seems, especially as Danny has betrayed everyone in his life in his pursuit of fame and fortune.
His older brother, William, Danny deserted just as their teenage band was getting noticed, jumping ship to find fame Brit Award-winning popsters, Dance Party 5. Then there's Rebecca, his long-suffering ex-wife and mother to his son Jake, brought up with an absent father. Finally there's Sarah, his much younger, trophy girlfriend. The five of them find themselves thrown together for the night in the cut-off cottage owned by loquacious farmer, Mrs Bateman, played with undisguised relish by the brilliant Susie Blake who is uproariously funny, spine-tingly scary and manically chilling by turn.
Directed with his usual tight pacing and attention to detail by Philip Franks upon Simon Kenny's homely set, Torben Bett's thriller twists and turns, second-guessing not just its audience but itself as home truths are shared and regrets revisited. It's an intricate study of the impossible that will leave you scratching your head in between jumping out your seat as it winds and wends its way to the big denouement. Even though the narrative becomes a bit muddled along the way it remains coherent enough to send genuine shivers down the spine.
If Blake and Chambers are the stars of the show, and they are, they get strong support from Rebecca Charles and Laura White as Rebecca and Sarah, and Johnny Green and Owen Oakeshott as Jake and William. All play it straight down the line despite moments that are more Hammer Horror than Psycho and could easily elicit laughter for all the wrong reasons, it's to the cast's credit that they don't.
Delivered in the best melodramatic traditions and with a running time of just one hour 50 minutes including an interval, Murder In The Dark is a fun and not too taxing evening of modern Grand Guignol, full of B-movie hokum and jump scares. Are you brave enough to uncover the truth?
Run ends 30 March. Tickets here . Tour dates here.
