Reviewed by Sophie Rowley

Opening Night verdict ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When you think of the hit TV show Midsomer Murders there are a number of images that come to mind, idyllic villages, pleasant green pastures, quiet and simple English village life to contrast dark criminal mystery. Now a delightful blend of charm, intrigue and dark humour is brought to the stage in Guy Unsworth’s adaptation of Caroline Graham’s novel Midsomer Murders: The killings at Badgers Drift. This clever adaptation is successful in bringing together the spirit and essence of the original TV series, but also ironically brings a lively energy to the theatre. From the moment the curtain rises, the audince are transported into a seemingly idyllic English Country village but beneath this quiet exterior lurks hidden secrets with deadly outcomes. That combined with instantly recognisable eerie theme tune played on a theremin.

Unsworth’s clever staging combined with a strong cast and plenty of plot twists makes this performance a hugely enjoyable watch. A moment of appreciation must be taken for the casting director – Ginny Schiller CDG as any aficionados of Midsomer Murders the TV series will instantly recognise the headline name of this play – Daniel Casey who once played Sergeant Troy – now returns as Inspector Tom Barnaby. 

As expected one of the strongest aspects of an archetypal Midsomer Murder plot is the eclectic mix of characters and Midsomer Murders: The killings at Badgers Drift is no exception to this. Each member of this cast brings an exciting fresh quality and wit to proceedings. The story starts with the death of the well loved Emily Simpson who is found dead in the quaint little village of Badger’s Drift, meaning Barnaby and Troy must now investigate her death and find who killed her.

Casey’s portrayal of Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby is faithful to the original – his quiet soft demeanour and intelligence shine through and as a result creates a calm and commanding presence throughout this murder mystery. Casey’s calmness contrasts well with his sidekick Detective Sergeant Gavin Troy played impeccably by James Bradwell. Then there is the cast of eccentric villagers, which quite honestly make the show as this is where the bulk of the humour lies.

The inhabitants of Badgers Drift, despite being a comical cliche, hold just enough authenticity to be believable. The cast comprising of John Dougall, Nathalie Barclay, Chandrika Chevli, Julie Legrand, Rupert Sadler, Chris Agha and Rhian Crowley-McLean work well to embrace the melodrama and hidden secrets that lurk beneath the villages polite exterior. Every stereotypical character is accounted for, the interfering neighbour, the gossipers, the suspicious spies – and each one contributes to making the atmosphere so intense. The stage is filled with intrigue which makes the audience constantly question everything before their eyes – who can they trust and what should they be looking out for. My personal favourites of this cast were Lucy Bellringer played by Julie Legrand and the multiple characters played by John Dougall – these two were essential in the shows plot and their quick wit and humour at times had the audience in hysterics.

 

Now the above would not be possible without a spectacular creative team that bring this show to life. Knowing that the audience will be filled with fans of the original TV series mean that the creatives have a mammoth job on their hands to make sure all nuances are accounted for. The pressure of staying faithful to the original whilst at the same time creating a fresh retelling pays off in Guy Unsworth’s direction and clever script. Unsworth maintains the sharp wit of the Midsomer script and where needed fills the plot with suspense and sarcasm but it never feels overdone – again a credit to Unsworth’s talent. David Woodhead in addition to this creates sets and costumes that compliment Unsworth’s work. Woodhead uses the back drop of the idyllic rural countryside as the focus for his set – the simple yet effective choice allows for swift scene changes to drive the plot seamlessly.

The lighting (Matt Haskins) and the sound (Ella Wahlstrom) contrast well to visually create tension throughout the show. The lighting creates the drama, whilst the score provides suspense through eerie sounds that serve to build tension prior to a climatic reveal. I appreciated the mix of quiet village life as a backdrop to the eerie outcomes happening throughout the village. The entire production succeeds in creating an atmospheric spectacle that remains suspenseful until the end. This is further justified by the audiences reaction to the multiple plot twists that ensue through the village of Badger’s Drift.

Overall this show is a great success – it has all the twists and turns you would want from a Midsomer Murders tale. The plot is highly entertaining and through Unsworth and Woodheads is a very well constructed piece of theatre. The cast keep you engaged throughout and despite being a modern take on an old classic still keeps the sentimental charm fans have come to love. In addition, the cast are exceptional in their characterisation and through a good dose of dark humour and clever sets the story is well presented and makes for a throughly enjoyable evening. Come and see if you can survive England’s deadliest village through a mix of “art, horticulture cake and friendship.

Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift is on at Manchester’s Opera House until Saturday 30th May tickets available here