Torben Betts Archives - North West End UK

The latest outing from writer Torben Betts is a gleefully farcical affair that never once pretends to be believable. From the opening moments where the audience is faced with the aftermath of what is described by a policeman as murderous ‘carnage’, Murder at Midnight announces itself as broad and proudly and knowingly over-the-top. The decision for our theatregoers tonight is not whether any of what they witness makes sense but if they are willing to go along with the foolishness. If they do, there is a great deal of fun to be had. Resistance will result in the play’s relentless absurdity becoming quickly wearing. The vague plot centres around the home of Jonny Drinkwater, a local gangster, on New Year’s Eve, where a series of events will lead to a body count that rivals a Tara...

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...

Tag: Torben Betts

Murder at Midnight – The Lowry

Murder in the Dark – The Lowry