Murder In The Dark At The Oxford Playhouse Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Joanna Woodburn
From the producers behind Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d, Murder in the Dark is a new thriller by acclaimed writer Torben Betts and is showing at The Oxford Playhouse. The trailer for the production raises expectations and anticipation for an evening of suspense and intrigue, asking ‘Are you ready for Murder in the Dark?’
The Oxford Playhouse lies in the heart of this historic city, situated directly opposite the impressive Ashmolean Museum. The theatre is an intimate venue, with very comfortable, uniquely multi coloured seating with super leg room, audiences are guaranteed a good view from anywhere in the auditorium.
Produced by the award-winning Original Theatre, Murder in the Dark is a clever twisting psychological ghost story and is a perfect example of thriller theatre at its best. As the suspense and tension rises, the surprises and unexpected veer from laugh out loud moments to shivers down the spine and actually had a few of us myself included, jumping out of the seat in fright!
Murder in the Dark tells the tale of Danny Sierra, a singer, superbly played by TV and Stage’s Tom Chambers and his dysfunctional family, including his brother William, played by Owen Oakeshott and his ex-wife Rebecca, played by Rebecca Charles.
It is New Year’s Eve and following his mother’s funeral, Sierra and his family are involved in a car crash on a deserted road on their way back to London. They are rescued by the owner of a local farm, Mrs Bateman, played by TV and Stage legend Susie Blake and take refuge from the weather in a dilapidated cottage on her farm. As the weather worsens, the family unhappily realise they are stuck there for the night. The cottage is the setting for much of the play as we delve deeper and deeper into the mystery and intrigue in this ghostly gripping tale.
The first half of the play explores the dysfunctional family dynamics as the characters appear from the car crash and as the tension rises between the characters, the scene is set for what is to come. As the story unfolds, the second half of the story ramps up the pace and tension and takes the audience on a twisty-turny roller-coaster ride of nerves on edge scares, this is a brilliant ghost story masterfully told.
Susie Blake is fabulous as the mysterious Mrs Bateman, perfecting her long ramblings with great comic timing and superb acting. Tom Chambers as Sierra gives a mesmerising and convincing performance. As Danny Sierra’s life is revealed, his fame as a pop star, his alcoholism and neglect of his family, the family angst switches to the supernatural with great effect. All the cast work well together to sustain a tense atmosphere, lulling the audience with comedy moments only to then shock and spook.
The staging of the play is simple and effective. The minimal set and the few changes of scene dramatically adds to the character of the play and the brilliantly atmospheric noises and clever use of lighting leads to many spooky ‘jumpy’ moments!
Murder in the Dark lives up to its name – intense, fun and thrilling and not to be missed! Huge congratulations to the cast and production team.
Rating: 4/5; Tickets cost from £10; Murder in the Dark is at The Oxford Playhouse from Tues 26th – Sat 30th September; For more information or to book tickets visit https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/murder-in-the-dark or call the box office on: 01865 305305
Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2LW
Rating: 4/5