REVIEW: Murder at Midnight
By Paul Bromley, volunteer theatre reviewer
The play comes with no less than ten content warnings and a 14+ age guidance.
The alerts cover strong language, blood and violence, flashing lights and gun shots.
So, I wondered, how could it possibly live up to its billing as a “comedy thriller”?
The opening scene is the aftermath of a crime scene with numbered markers, uniformed police officers and a scenes-of-crime officer trying to make sense of bullet holes, a crossbow and blood-stained meat cleaver.
That’s where the thriller aspect comes in. But, after that, the rest of the first half is all comedy as events leading up to the arrival of the police are set out.
The cast includes Susie Blake (from Coronation Street) as mother Shirley who uses Tarot cards and sees the Devil all around her, Jason Durr (from Heartbeat) as her gangster son Jonny, Max Bowden (from EastEnders) as an incompetent undercover policeman trying to solve the long-standing mystery of the disappearance (possibly murder) of Jonny’s wife, and Katie McGlynn (from Coronation Street and Hollyoaks) as Jonny’s current girlfriend Lisa.
I mention the TV credits of the main players because the plot of Murder at Midnight is like the very best of the storylines from all the soaps: love triangles, revenge, dodgy dealing, rivalry among criminals and the past catching up with the present.
The action takes place in one house in Kent on New Year’s Eve but is split over several levels: the set covers the main room, bar area, Jonny’s “man cave” office with a giant image of Robbie Williams, an upstairs bedroom and an outdoor area through some sliding patio doors with noises off of aggressive dogs barking.
The production, from Original Theatre and written by Torben Betts, is at its best when the action – and especially the dialogue – bounces in quick succession from one room to another.
The imaginative set design allows for action inside and outside at the same time. The play is directed by Philip Franks, best known for his roles in The Darling Buds of May and Heartbeat.
"A multi-level, multi-layered mash-up of murder and mayhem"
The second half is much more about the thriller aspect as the characters turn on each other and more is revealed about their true nature and relationships. It’s madcap at times with plenty of stage blood spattered across the set, mix-ups between “real” and “fake” guns, and power struggles.
Special mention here for Iryna Poplavska, from Ukraine, making her theatrical debut in the UK as the Romanian carer Cristina. She has perfected the cowering, nervous tremble and maintains it for most of the play.
Overall, I laughed in my seat more than I jumped out of my seat so I would definitely place the emphasis on “comedy” over “thriller”.
And I would add one more note to prospective theatregoers: Murder at Midnight is a multi-level, multi-layered mash-up of murder and mayhem.
It’s dark humour for dark evenings during Halloween week and an absolute scream.
:: Murder at Midnight runs at the Devonshire Park Theatre until Friday 31 October. Tickets available here
:: Paul Bromley is a qualified journalist and broadcaster who worked for 40 years for regional newspapers, the Press Association and Sky News. He now works in community rail. He is a volunteer writer with Eastbourne Reporter.
