Fresh off the back of Murder in the Dark Torben Betts has produced Murder at Midnight, set on New Years Eve where early arrivals home combined with an unexpected intruder sends the night spiralling into dangerous territory as  secrets and manipulation all come to the fore.

The production opens with the audience being told about the deceased and the murder weapons and from then time is rewound as we slowly discover the circumstances that lead to over 4 different causes of death all in one house. Betts play is brilliantly paced so the information is teased out slowly throughout the show yet the pace is swift whilst there are moments of levity in between the darker moments and the plot twists again. With that many murder weapons and numerous motives all at play I was concerned that it would slip into melodrama, especially as the play opens with lines from the police officers admitting that if this was a play you would never believe it but it was always n the right side of the line. My main struggle with Murder at Midnight was that I was often unsure if it was supposed to be dark and chilling or humorous, I would take a stab at both however because neither quite succeed to their full potential it means that they both fall a little bit flat. There is also a huge amount going on with the sheer number of causes of death so there is a lot to listen out for and wrap your head around, perhaps for this reason the final conclusion doesn’t feel quite so satisfying as it doesn’t really ever feel like who dunnit really mattered.

The characters are good fun, even if not very well rounded. The property is owned by Jonny, played by Jason Durr who is portrayed as a cockney gangster who feeds bodies to his pigs. His swaggering confidence is portrayed well and just on the right side of believable. Susie Blake as Shirley, Jonny’s mother threatens to steal the show with her outbursts and provides much of the levity of the show. Iryna Poplavska played the role of Lisa, Jonnys philandering girlfriend and Max Bowden as Paul, the current interest of her affection have a lovely rapport on stage together. It does however get frustrating a repetitive when the characters continue to explain their character traits to the audience, Paul’s constant reminder about how he is a bad policeman feels unnecessary to hammer the point home as its clear to see and this pattern is repeated by others.

The set design by Colin Falconer assists the story greatly and is set within the family home, over different levels we see the living room and kitchen, Jonny’s office and the bedroom along with a glimpse of the entrance leading to the home. This split level set up means that various conversations can interject quickly throughout the piece and keeps the show moving along at a good pace.

Murder at Midnight delivers an evening that is pacey and playful even if its tonal juggling act somewhat blunts its impact. It may not offer the most satisfying payoff nor the sharpest balance of chills and chuckles but it provides enough energy, twists and theatrical flair to keep audiences entertained at the clock strikes twelve.

Murder at Midnight is on at The Churchill Theatre until 29th November and it then continues its tour. You can find out more here.

If you like this review you might also like my reviews of The Mousetrap, The Play That Goes Wrong and Witness for the Prosecution.