Owen Oakeshott Archives - North West End UK

8Dec

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

London

The Mousetrap – St Martin’s Theatre

Director Philip Franks wonderfully maintains the suspense of what is the longest running play in the world, which now in its 73rd year, having first opened in London’s West End in 1952, continues to play to packed houses which is a testament to Agatha Christie’s suspenseful writing and the accompanying performances from the cast with the support of an accomplished creative team. Set in early 1950’s England, Mollie Ralston (Lara Lemon) and Giles Ralston (Harry Bradley) have been married for one year and having decided to repurpose her inherited stately home, Monkswell Manor, as a guest house, they nervously await their first guests amidst a snowy blizzard that has just descended. First to arrive is the excitable Christoper Wren (Richard Leeming), an architect no less who loves to coo...

20Mar

By Dave SmithNo Comments

London

Murder In The Dark – Richmond Theatre

After a car crash on a wintry, snowy night, Mrs. Bateman (Susie Blake), a local farmer, brings a fairly dysfunctional family back to her isolated farmhouse to shelter for the night before the trains start running again. It is New Year's Eve and everyone has better plans, but instead, they are left without food or wine along with plenty of acrimony. Danny (Tom Chambers) was a pop star once. Perhaps with a chance of making real music with his brother William (Owen Oakeshott), a hint of fame and fortune led him to leave his brother behind and join the teen pop group Dance Party 5. A string of hits and a jet-setting lifestyle saw him indulge in drink and drugs, leaving his wife Rebecca (Rebecca Charles) and young son Jake (Jonny Green) behind. Many years later, he crashes the car with his f...

13Mar

By Lou SteggalsNo Comments

North West

Murder in the Dark – Floral Pavilion

As the audience opens their programmes for tonight’s performance, they are greeted with a simple plea – do not spoil the show for others. With that in mind, what can be said about the show is that it absolutely won’t be what you expect. I’m just not sure that’s a good thing in this case. We start with a simple premise. Faded pop star Danny (Tom Chambers) and his young girlfriend Sarah (Laura White) arrives at a ramshackle cottage with a handily unreliable power supply and no wi-fi, having crashed his car. They are taken under the wing of the eccentric owner Mrs Bateman (Susie Blake) and soon joined by the car’s other passengers; Danny’s estranged brother William (Owen Oakeshott), ex-wife Rebecca (Rebecca Charles) and his uninterested son Jake (Jonny Green). Directed by Philip Fra...

24Jan

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

North West

Murder in the Dark – The Lowry

Thrillers on stage are notoriously difficult to pull off effectively and I am afraid this one didn’t quite hit the mark. Unfortunately, I was not on the edge of my seat and the supposed thrills, twists and turns at the end flailed rather than flabbergasted. Which is a shame because the groundwork was solidly laid for a classic murder mystery thriller. A group of characters are left in an isolated farm, and we become increasingly concerned there maybe something nasty in the woodshed. Danny (Tom Chambers) and Sarah (Laura White) are welcomed into the farmhouse by the eccentric owner Mrs Bateman (Susie Blake). It is New Year’s Eve, he has just buried his mother, they are miles from anywhere and Danny is desperate for a drink. He has crashed his car into a wall, and they will have to sta...