A Tour de Force is defined as an achievement or performance that shows great skill and attracts admiration. Given the dark humour of Murder at Midnight, playing at Bromley’s Churchill Theatre from 26-29 November, tickets here, this comedy thriller is more a Tour de Hearse, with the iconic vehicle clearly parked outside ready for a character to be swept off at any time.
Going to a New Year’s celebration in the home of a well-known gangster and probable wife-murderer is, frankly, too dangerous to contemplate. Yet cast and audience did just that, and in the best traditions of movies such as The Lavender Hill Mob, the difficult balance struck between humour and thrills was spot on. Instrumental in achieving this feat was the pivotal Shirley, played by Susie Blake, in a delightful, captivating performance that she clearly relished. So, too, Shirley’s son, Jonny Drinkwater (Jason Durr) was a superb loveable rogue. Rogue is, however, too gentle a word. Vicious b*****d might be nearer the mark.
Yes, this is one of the most entertaining entertainments we have seen on the Churchill Theatre stage.
Visually, the drama unfolded in a four-part set, so at times we were watching min-drama’s in different spaces – bedroom, study, lounge, driveway. The interplay of space and people was always comical and worked smoothly.
We wouldn’t give away plot pointers for a production like this, which will be new to many and which has plenty of surprises that should stay that way.
However, it is reasonable to mention that during the evening Johnny encountered a feckless youth named Russell (Calum Bamforth), a friend named Trainwreck (Peter Moreton), a guest named Paul (Max Bowden), Johnny’s partner Lisa (Iryna Poplavska), and a questionable carer, Cristina (Bella Farr).
Something very positive could be said of each actor, but the roles of Trainwreck (very well-played, Peter!) and guest respectively provided a good many of the more frenzied and funny moments in the production. If there was a conductor to this scary, anxious, threatening, laugh-out-loud orchestra, it very much was Susie Blake. That, in turn, is also a credit to the writing of Torben Betts and the direction of Philip Franks.
Again, tickets here.
Darren and Jacqui Weale, 16 November 2025.
Bromley Buzz 