Directed by Philip Franks
Written by Torben Betts
Review by Annie Aslett
Murder In The Dark, a new horror play by Torben Betts, is winging its way around the UK and arrived at Glasgow’s Pavillion Theatre this week. The UK tour of Danny Robins’ smash hit 2:22: A Ghost Story will have whetted audience appetites for scares – how will this suspenseful tale hold up?
Tom Chambers (of Holby City, Father Brown, Casualty, Waterloo Road and Strictly Come Dancing fame) is Danny Sierra, a now-middle-aged former teen pop sensation struggling with your run-of-the-mill fallen child star problems: addiction, regret, an estranged son, navigating a relationship with a woman many years his junior. Danny, his girlfriend, Sarah (Laura White), the aforementioned son, Jake (Jonny Green), his brother, William (Owen Oakeshott) and his ex-wife, Rebecca (Rebecca Charles) find themselves in a run-down farmhouse in the middle of nowhere after Danny drives them into a wall on the way back from his mother’s funeral. The owner is Mrs Bateman (Susie Blake), an unsettling old widow who offers to let them stay the night. From this set-up, ghostly twists and turns abound – no spoilers here, though: to find out the rest you’ll have to venture to the Pavillion yourself.
An isolated farmhouse and a creepy older woman? A TV that keeps turning on by itself? The eerie refrain from a children’s nursery rhyme? If you’re thinking this all sounds a bit cliché, you’d be right. Under the direction of Philip Franks, Paul Pyant’s lighting and Simon Kenny’s set design work in harmony with Max Pappenheim’s sound design to provide excellent jump scares, but it’s nothing we haven’t jumped at before. It is, however, more fun to experience these campy horror tropes live in the theatre, and the creative team has managed to conjure a viscerally creepy atmosphere. Horror fans will find nothing new here, but the tried-and-tested formulae for scares are well-pitched nevertheless.
Betts’ plot tries to subvert your expectations about what you assume is going to happen – you will find yourself guessing and questioning what you think you know throughout. Unfortunately, the last 20 minutes of the show feel rushed, which slightly dampens the ‘mic-drop’ ending that the writing is going for. Viewing this traditional ghost story through the lens of a man who has ruined his life in pursuit of fame is a unique take; however, cramming in a resolution to this theme with the final big reveal leaves everything feeling a bit jumbled – not quite the killer blow that is set up by the earlier intrigue.
Although Murder in the Dark has shortcomings, it has two shining strings to its bow. One, as previously mentioned, is the staging – shrieks and nervous laughter from the audience are proof of the expertise of this team in creating a creeping atmosphere. The other beacon of light in this show comes from its stellar cast. Chambers is at once pitiable, and cringeworthy as the washed-up-popstar-turned-addict, wanting to build bridges with his family having burnt them in favour of fame over the years. Danny is not an easy character to play – Chambers performs a pitch-perfect juggling act as he portrays a man grappling with his demons, whilst grappling with actual demons.
Charles is another standout as Rebecca, Danny’s ex-wife and mother of his son. Despite having a more minimal role, Charles manages to bring much-needed gravitas to proceedings as she swerves between playing peacekeeper between father and son and dealing with her lingering feelings towards Danny. The standout performance of the night, however, comes from Susie Blake as Mrs Bateman. The plot requires Blake to find many different levels to her performance, a challenge that she more than rises to, with impeccable comic timing to boot. The wrong Mrs Bateman would sink this show, but Blake sails the ship with ease.
Murder in the Dark is a lot of fun and has that vital element that all suspenseful plays should: you’ll be discussing it with your family and friends all the way home. Think 2:22: A Ghost Story crossed with a specific episode of Black Mirror that won’t be named here for fear of spoilers (though some may recognise the ending a mile off) – but it’s still an amusing night out at the theatre. What it Murder in the Dark lacks in originality and pacing, it makes up for with note-perfect performances and an atmospheric design that will immerse you in the ominous setting.
Atmospheric Immersion
Murder in the Dark runs at the Glasgow Pavillion until March 30th.
Running time – Two hours and ten minutes without interval.
Suitable for ages 14+
Photo credit – Pamela Raith
Review by Annie Aslett
Annie is a life-long lover of musical theatre, whose childhood performances included a rousing production of Snow White in The Hall and a heartfelt rendition of Go, Go, Go Joseph in The Living Room. While confined to the audiences these days, she regularly catches the latest shows and musicals in London’s West End and is excited to experience the musical delights of the Fringe, as well as any comedy that she can get her hands on. School’s out and she’s raring to review.
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