Review: Murder At Midnight – Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham

The writers of Murder in the Dark return with another twisted thriller, Murder at Midnight.

It begins with the police clearing up after a crime scene – multiple victims, unusual weapons, and more questions than answers. The clock then rewinds, taking us back to New Year’s Eve so we can watch how it all came about.

The story starts when Jonny “The Cyclops” (Jason Durr) arrives back at the family home unexpectedly with his hot-headed sidekick, Trainwreck (Peter Morton), to be greeted by his sharp-tongued, and seemingly slighty mad, mother Shirley (Susie Blake). 

From there the night builds, with his glamorous girlfriend Lisa (Katie McGlynn), the jittery situationship Paul (Max Bowden) and others stepping into the story, each bringing more tension, secrets and shifting loyalties as we discover how this strange collection of characters turned the house into a bloodbath.

Durr plays Jonny with the right mix of menace and charm, McGlynn gives Lisa both sparkle and grit, Moreton as Trainwreck adds some great comedy moments and Bowden makes Paul awkward but compelling. But the standout is Susie Blake as Shirley – very funny, convincingly crazy, brilliantly delivered and great fun to watch – she really adds a lot to every scene she is in.

The set also works really well to help tell the story with its multi-level design meaning we’re often watching different parts of the house at the same time, with subplots bubbling away in the background while the main action unfolds.

Darkly comic, stylish and with just the right amounts of farse, frights and drama, Murder at Midnight is a great night at the theatre.

Murder At Midnight runs until 27th September