Cambridge Arts Theatre welcomes Murder in the Dark, a new production from Original Theatre Company and written by Torben Betts. It’s New Year’s Eve; a motley crew of characters, abandoned in a storm after a car crash, are rescued by an eccentric old lady who offers them shelter in the less-than ideal holiday cottage on her property. Of course, there’s no Wi-Fi or phone signal. Did you even need to ask? All seems well at first, but then everything changes when the lights go out. This production promises to be a “spine-chilling ghost story”, will it deliver?

The highlight for me is the production design. The desolate cottage, designed by Simon Kenny, captures the murk of a 1 star Airbnb, adding greatly to the direness of the situation our characters find themselves in. Scene changes between interior and exterior scenes are buttery smooth, with walls appearing out of nowhere as if they were ghosts themselves. The first transition genuinely makes me gasp in awe. The set teases you. There are small, but effective tricks with the set to build tension in the audience. A door slams. A television blares. Jump scares are used sparingly to devastating effect, supported by the eerie melodies and sound effects designed and composed by Max Pappenheim.  Paul Pyant’s lighting is excellent plus the use of phone torches to light the set and cast is a great touch.

Act 1 begins by slowly introducing our characters and giving us an insight into the afflictions of our lead Danny Sierra (Tom Chambers). Danny is a troubled Z-lister celebrity, propelled to stardom as a member of a boyband, only for that to come crashing down along with his marriage to Rebecca (Rebecca Charles). Returning with them from Danny’s mother’s funeral is   his angsty son Jake (Johnny Green), his inappropriately young girlfriend (Laura White), and his estranged brother William (Owen Oakeshott). They find themselves stranded after the car crashes during a storm and are aided by a local elderly woman called Mrs Bateman (Susie Blake) who offers them shelter. Chambers does a fantastic job of portraying the complicated Danny. He is on edge throughout, with sudden bursts of anger which keep you on your toes. Blake is electric as the mysterious Mrs Bateman. Her character is charming and intriguing, yet menacing where needed. I am completely disarmed by her from the start and now look forward to her every appearance.  

As the story progresses, more and more is revealed about each character and the varying degrees of disdain they have for Danny, who in turn takes zero accountability for his past actions. Emotionally charged scenes are cut with sudden inexplicable happenings that threaten the sanity of both the characters and the audience. The second act delves deeper into the characters’ minds, lives, and pasts as truths come out that change the course of events, with unexpected revelations and twists. All of this culminates in one final twist that will either blow your mind or not quite hit the mark, depending on the person.

So, does Murder in the Dark deliver on its promises? Somewhat. Act 1 shows a great deal of potential, crashing into the interval with a bang and leaving the audience wanting more. Act 2 loses me slightly. A lot is packed into the second half and it becomes a little confused in what it is trying to be. The supernatural happenings are executed perfectly, however the story itself unravels into what audiences could find to be an unsatisfying conclusion. For true die-hard horror fans the ending may feel disappointing. However, as a spooky ghost story, Murder In The Dark  remains a strong production overall and a worthy addition to the Cambridge Arts Theatre programming.

Photography: Pamela Raith