The Other Side of Murder
Devonshire Park Theatre
until Saturday 10th October
Written by Torben Betts
Directed by Philip Franks
Presented by Original Theatre
in association with Theatr Clwyd
This is the third of a trilogy of plays from Torben Betts, and although I confess not to have seen the first two, thankfully The Other Side of Murder is very much a standalone production.
The iconic 1884 Devonshire Park Theatre is a Victorian gem, with its lovely plush red velvet seating and rabbit warren of rooms and staircases, is a true delight to visit, and just a few steps from the esplanade, lending an extra bit of seaside magic.
The play stars the multi-talented Rufus Hound as Peter, a pretty washed up hammy actor cum medium, summoning up the dead on a regular basis as the flamboyant Darius Devine. Peter is basically pompous and self-absorbed, believing in his own – unfounded – importance, eventually demonstrating that he cannot cope when his cosy self-centred world descends into chaos. Unfortunately his former fame has dwindled away to virtually nothing, and he became, to put it bluntly, a bit of a has-been. Enter his loyal, ever supportive wife Susannah (elegantly played by Carla Mendonça), who fortunately for Peter also happens to be both his manager and a promoter. Susannah has miraculously obtained Peter a primetime slot on TV, following his random appearance on a game show. Suddenly Peter shows signs of ditching the lethargy and prepares to bask in his approaching media renaissance.
Featuring an impressive set combining a kitchen diner with a comfy living room (I experienced a considerable amount of room envy!) we find Peter reclining on the sofa. A special dinner is planned for this very evening when Peter will be reuniting with his long estranged daughter (Beth Lilly) recently arrived from Australia, and Susannah has hired a caterer to do the cooking. Not only that but she’s also invited her Mikado-obsessed mother Miriam (the incomparable Susie Blake), filling Peter with horror as they really do not get on, not one bit.But the real horror for Peter is the sudden appearance of his cast off lover Laura (played with spirited relish by Aisha Jawando) who is mistaken by Susannah for the French caterer – Laura faking her ‘Frenchness’ is hysterical. What follows is nothing short of mayhem and madness – and murder.
This is essentially a dark comedy with anything that could go wrong going wrong, a farce of the Alan Ayckbourn ilk, which keeps you totally immersed from beginning to end. The recipe is pretty familiar: mistaken identities, long suffering middle-aged wife with an errant husband, the ensuing disaster and comedic chaos. It’s all recognisable in this production, however the added running theme of ‘seeing dead people’ enhanced by spooky lighting and sound effects make for a refreshingly stimulating piece, not least due to outstanding performances from the whole cast. All praise for the wonderful Susie Blake, who from her initial entrance onto the stage, to her startling demonstration of psychic powers – far surpassing those of her charlatan son-in-law – is so impressive! In a pivotal point in the second act Ms Blake comes into her own, her sudden mutation from sour, critical mother-in-law to accomplished clairvoyant steals the show
The teeming dialogue fairly races along, so much so that unless you concentrate hard, it can be tricky to keep track, however that’s all part of the play’s charm: bucketloads of witty one-liners are peppered throughout, hilarious come-backs are thick and fast, plus genuinely character-driven performances. However, to describe this play just as a farce is to miss the most valid points it makes: Laura and Susannah eventually contrive to give Peter his just deserts, Laura is a feisty spurned lover determined to get retribution, and Susannah delivers an emotional shedding of her indulgent, non-confrontational facade, demonstrating how middle-aged marriages can crumble under the pressure of living with a compulsively unfaithful husband. The formula is so familiar: 50-something weak husband addicted to young, attractive, less advantaged women, and his forbearing wife putting up with it for years, until a series of catalysts occur.
There is an explosive ending to The Other Side of Murder, totally unexpected. Torben Betts has been remarkably clever in stitching together reality and that which is not, culminating in a surprising ‘resolution’, causing quite an intake of breath in the auditorium. Frankly I could have lived without the sight of Peter running around in just his black Y-fronts, but notwithstanding this the play is a hugely entertaining frolic, lots of clever humour, having a moral which is undeniably authentic. With an excellent ensemble cast, great plotting and a breathlessly fast pace of dialogue you are assured of a gloriously entertaining night out at the theatre.
approx 2 hours inc interval
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Touring
Reviewer: Gill Ranson
Photo: Manuel Harlen
Cast List
Rufus Hound – Peter
Susie Blake – Miriam
Carla Mendonça – Susannah
Aisha Jawando – Laura
Beth Lilly – Jen
Andy McLeod – Jason & Understudy Peter
Maddy Banks – Understudy Laura & Jen
Oliver Byng – Understudy Jason
Sarah Lawn – Understudy Susannah & Miriam
Creative List
Torben Betts Writer
Philip Franks Director
Colin Falconer Designer
Jason Taylor Lighting Designer
Max Pappenheim Sound Designer & Composer
John Bulleid Illusion Designer