From the moment you walk into the auditorium at the New Theatre in Cardiff you know are in for something spine-tingling and thrilling. MURDER IN THE DARK opened last night, and it delivers everything you expect from the poster and trailer.
I think it’s fair to say to say that TORBEN BETTS, is one of our most original and visionary writers, a man who believes it’s important to write plays in which each actor has a substantial role to showcase their talents, and he’s achieved that by the bucketload in this new production.
The story centres on Danny Sierra (TOM CHAMBERS) who is a washed-up singer, and you just know that is going to come with some challenges, which indeed it does. There’s also Sarah (LAURA WHITE), his younger ‘trophy‘ girlfriend who has to contend with Danny’s alcohol addiction and the recent passing of his Mother.
I’ll come back to the talented cast shortly, but an early shout out has to go to the incredible set design by SIMON KENNY and lighting by PAUL PYANT. What we see on stage really adds to the atmospheric feel of the production. I have to say the set is brilliant and creepy in itself. The attention to detail in this rural cottage is impressive. It is definitely part of the whole experience, with its rickety old furniture and an old well which could have come straight from the set of the original Ring movie.
The cottage holds as many secrets as our characters and without giving anything anyway, hold onto the hand of the person next to you – you will be jumping out of your proverbial seat, that’s for sure.
Don’t take our word for it, here’s last night’s audience giving their take on the show – with no plot spoilers, I can assure you. We also spoke to two of the stars, Susie Blake and Tom Chambers….
I really have to be careful here and not give anything away. Going into the theatre with minimal information is a good thing. The story is one of those that will leave you talking, long after the final curtain falls. That in part is down to some brilliant directing from PHILIP BANKS – yes, that is Charlie from The Darling Buds of May, and a regular visitor to Cardiff in Rocky Horror. It’s clear Philip has a love of the horror genre from the meticulous detail in his direction.
And that brings us to the stars of the show, the entire cast, and, in their entirety, they really giving outstanding performances.
Tom has all the charisma we’ve come to know and love from his TV roles, but with the added troubles of his characters past, he turns all that on its head with a man on the path to self destruction. SUSIE BLAKE delivers some humour to the piece, which we’ve come to know her for, but as Mrs Bateman she is as wacky a pig farmer as you’ll meet but also comes with an air of mystery, and for me, a little menace.
She also has a guard dog which can be heard howling and barking offstage – I think you can work out how that will fit in to the tension.
JONNY GREEN, REBECCA CHARLES, OWEN OAKESHOT, complete the cast with really strong, convincing performances. Their chemistry and ability to convey the mounting tension in the story are truly commendable.
The play is a combination of a thriller and a real family drama. Instead of the usual array of dead bodies we get the real bodies from Danny’s past who help unravel his shattered past and those moments which bring him to the point of his downfall. There is one other question you will ask yourself throughout the play – is Mrs Bateman more linked to this disparate group than you’d expect a relative stranger to be?
Enough said on that I think. It’s all for you to work out during the course of the 2 hours (with an interval) the play runs.
For us, there was the perfect mix of jump scares, engaging story and characters to really pull us in. It does build during the course of the show, and make sure you hold on tight to that hand next to you as we get ever closer to the end. You will laugh at times throughout the show, the script is witty at those points you need a bit of light relief. I want to add again however, the set and lighting really add to the feel of the piece.
MURDER IN THE DARK is at the New Theatre in Cardiff through to Saturday 2nd March. Performances are at 7:30pm with a 2:30pm matinee on Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets start at £24 and to get yours go HERE.
They also have a school’s rate. £20 pupils with one teacher free for every 10 tickets purchased. Call our Box Office to arrange.
