Midsomer Murders at Richmond Theatre Review
Written by Cathie for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
It is a staple of British culture that when it a picturesque village is shown, a most vile hotbed of lies and shames lies underneath. The wildly successful and beloved Midsomer Murders series first aired in 1997, and twenty eight years later, has been adapted for the stage and directed by Guy Unsworth.
Can dependable Chief Inspector Barnaby and brave Sargent Troy save the day and stop the murderer in time? It would be impossible to condense the sprawling series into a cohesive short play, therefore this adaptation focuses on the first book by Caroline Graham, Midsomer Murders The Killings at Badger’s Drift. Octogenarian Emily Simpson is found dead and her friend Lucy pushes the detectives to open a case. When Detectives Barnaby and Troy investigate, they find many crimes, secrets and more murders than initially expected in this idyllic setting.
The adaptation is faithful to both the novel and tv series, but includes some fresh jokes and nods to the 90s that modern audiences highly appreciate. The pace is tight in the first half of the play but slows in the second half so it ends on a relaxed and pleasing note rather than a tense climax.
At two and a half hours it is the same length and timing as the original tv series and advances through the story at a consistent rate. The play maintains much of the “cosy crime” genre but comedy is a large aspect of this production. There is plenty of witty gags, jokes and parodies of the infamous whodunnit genre and of detective procedurals in general.
This is best encapsulated with a staging of the murder events using gnomes. Therefore, this play does a highly credible job of balancing both the thriller and comedic elements of this story to make a highly enjoyable night out. The set is truly incredible and one of the strengths of this production. David Woodhead’s set is framed by a circular Midsomer Murders sign which shows the back drop of the village while the front of the stage shows immaculately detailed miniature sets of different houses and gardens.
Matt Haskins lighting design and Ella Wahlström’s sound design work well to create a tense atmosphere. Fans of the tv series will enjoy Max Pappenheim’s score used throughout. The cast are entirely wonderful and very talented. Daniel Casey, who originated the St Troy role in the tv series, is now Inspector Barnaby in this play. He is fabulous and brilliantly leads the cast in pushing the plot along. James Bradwell is energetic and great comic relief as St Troy.
The rest of the cast play multi roles throughout. Julie Legrand is true magic to watch on stage in her very different roles. Nathalie Barclay and Rupert Sadler have brilliant fire and chemistry in their roles and bring much vitality to the stage. John Dougall and Chandrika Chevli are absolutely hilarious in their different roles and provide much of the biggest gags together. This cast has truly wonderful chemistry and work very well throughout to create a credible small village together. This is a truly delightful show which will bring joy to old and new fans alike. It perfectly bridges comedy and tension while still including the audience in the unfurling mystery. If you enjoy murder mysteries, brilliant acting and a fun night out in the colder months then this is the perfect show for you.
Midsomer Murders runs at Richmond Theatre until November 1st, before heading on tour to Malvern Festival Theatre.
★★★★★
