Everything Theatre Reviews, interviews and news for theatre lovers, London and beyond
Certainly more comedy than horror, this is a highly amusing show, but lacking a certain edge to justify the horror tag.Summary
Rating
Good
Horror stories can at times be a touch predictable. And there’s nothing wrong with that, so long as the journey that takes you to that obvious conclusion is worthwhile. Midwyntar is certainly in the predictable category. We find ourselves in a quaint old village with no phone signal, a family who believe in the old traditions before Christianity did away with them, and a naïve girl who is constantly being referred to as pure, innocent and perfect. This really is only going in one direction isn’t it?
Thankfully, as predictable as it all is from almost the opening scene, the telling of it has enough about it that it’s still an enjoyable watch. Parents Stephen (Jack Robertson) – pronounced the traditional way please – and Fran (Diane Axford) are both slightly odd, but more than welcoming to Po (Eleanor Rattenbury), girlfriend of their daughter Rowan (Megan Jarvie). But their oddness is nothing in comparison to cousin Adrian (Derek Mitchell), who’s come all the way from America and is constantly on his phone. There are some amusing exchanges that anyone who has spent a Christmas with overly friendly in-laws will more than recognise. The whole scene as Po and Rowan attempt a little intimacy on the fold out sofa certainly brings back fond memories of nights spent under someone else’s roof!
The comedy elements come thick and fast, with some joyfully over-the-top performances from Robertson and Axford. Robertson especially plays the part he co-wrote as if it were panto; big, bold and full throttle, in a wig that puts Michael Fabricant’s hair to shame! The script is littered with lovely humour as this strange family dynamic gets more and more bizarre and Po is slowly prepared for what’s to come. Playing it straight against the oddness, Rattenbury and Jarvie deliver two great performances.
The real problem though is that, as amusing as it all is, there is just not enough chill factor to truly make this a comedy horror. All the little hints of sinisterness seem to come and then go, without actually adding any real value. It’s just lacking any tension. The one wonderful moment when you feel something is about to happen, with Po alone in the dark, is just fleeting and seems to be forgotten without any recall as we reach the crescendo. There’s a similar issue with Adrian, the strange cousin, whose oddness and reason for staying never seems to be made clear. It’s almost as if Robertson and co-writer Jacob Lovick wanted to put in plenty of red herrings, but then forgot that at least one of them should lead somewhere.
With everything happening in the lounge, the large fold out sofa acts well as a central focal point, perfectly adding to that feel of a nice family home. But it’s a strange decision to place a TV in such a position that views of the closing scenes are slightly hampered for audiences sitting centrally; so much so that it’s quite possible my disappointment in the ending was more down to not being able to see what was happening.
Midwyntar is an amusing little show but it just lacks enough punch to make it memorable. However, I’m a firm believer that Christmas isn’t Christmas without a little slapstick horror, and this production does give us enough to make this a nice show to see in the festive season, whether it’s with your own family or some strange one in the middle of nowhere!
Written and directed by: Jacob Lovick & Jack Robertson
Produced by: Medium Rare Productions
Midwyntar plays at Old Red Lion Theatre until 22 December. Further information and bookings can be found here.
