Torben Betts’ Homicide within the Darkish relishes in confounding expectations at Richmond Theatre and on tour
“We’ve simply buried my mom and been in a little bit of a automobile crash – I’m far and wide”
With doorways that creak open by themselves, shadowy faces looming within the home windows and an eerie model of ‘Three Blind Mice’ popping up at inopportune moments, the environment within the remoted farmhouse the place Homicide within the Darkish takes place is a spooky one certainly. It’s a stormy New 12 months’s Eve and a automobile accident has left a bunch of individuals stranded, saved solely by the kindness of an area woman who has an empty cabin on her property. With no trains working till the morning, there’s no selection however to hunker down for the night time however with no telephone, no WiFi, no indoor rest room even, it threatens to be a punishing one.
Torben Betts’ new play begins off as that quaint factor of a straight up horror story decided to make you bounce out of your seat. Philip Frank’s’ manufacturing proves fairly efficient in doing simply that, dropping in bounce scares whenever you’re least anticipating them, Max Pappenheim’s rumbling sound design including immeasurably to the environment as surprises materialise out of any and each corners of Simon Kenny’s efficient set. Fairly what these surprises are we’re honour-bound to not inform, however suffice to say you may wish to depart the lights on subsequent time it is advisable to pee….
A robust solid successfully play out the squabbling dynamics of this group, who emerge to be a fractured household. Tom Chambers’ Danny Sierra is on the coronary heart of all of it, a former pop star and present purposeful alcoholic compelled to look at the detritus of the relationships round him, whether or not with brother (Owen Oakeshott), ex-wife (Rebecca Charles), estranged son (Jonny Inexperienced) or present squeeze (Laura White), a fractious bunch all, with histories ready to be unpicked. Susie Blake steals her each scene although because the inimitable landlady Mrs Bateman, drily hilarious in her lack of concern for these Londoners all at sea.
With out wishing to provide an excessive amount of away, Betts additionally pulls his play into sudden instructions because it turns into clear {that a} single style isn’t sufficient and right here, the manufacturing actually does ricochet like a pinball machine in a wild second half that needs to be seen to be believed. It’s formidable to make sure because it additionally attracts inspiration from some recognisable televisual and cinematic sources, maybe not all the time solely efficiently, however I love the massive swing that leaves you musing for a great whereas after the curtain has come down.
Operating time: 1 hour 55 minutes (with interval) Photographs: Pamela Raith Pictures Homicide within the Darkish is reserving at Richmond Theatre till twenty third March
