Laughs, thrills and big twists in latest murder offering

REVIEW: 'The Other Side of Murder' at New Theatre, Cardiff

If you enjoyed the darkly comic crime thrillers Murder in the Dark and Murder at Midnight, this week's offering at the New Theatre is definitely one for you.

The Other Side of Murder, which opened in Cardiff last night (Tuesday 22 September), completes a murder trilogy from Original Theatre, written by Torben Betts and directed by Philip Franks.

Each play is a totally independent story, but there are reassuringly familiar elements here - dark humour, murder, and plenty of surprises.

Celebrity psychic Darius Divine (Rufus Hound) is hosting a family dinner to build bridges with his estranged daughter (Beth Lilly) and to celebrate his upcoming TV revival through a show called The Other Side.

But the night, which could have been merely awkward, turns into a nightmarish sequence of events, starting with a visit from his wronged (and pregnant) lover (Aisha Jawando), and leading to death, recriminations, and possible visitations from beyond the grave.

It's part farce, part crime thriller, part ghost story, with some major plot twists along the way.

Other lead players include Carla Mendonca as Darius's wife and agent, and Susie Blake as his mother-in-law, obsessed by Gilbert and Sullivan and perhaps possessing psychic powers of her own.

And the talented cast is completed by Andy McLeod, Maddy Banks, Oliver Byng, and Sarah Lawn.

The single set is beautifully and cleverly designed by Colin Falconer, and credit to Jason Taylor (lighting), Max Pappenheim (sound), and John Bulleid (illusions), whose work combines to create some startling effects, especially in the second act.

Overall, it's a very entertaining play with laughs, top-class performances, and some real surprises. It has plenty to say about celebrity culture too.

The Other Side of Murder is at the New Theatre until Saturday (26 September). There are a couple of truly scary moments, so there's age guidance of 14+. Tickets are available from the box office on 0343 310 0041 or online here.

Review by Andy Weltch

Photos by Manuel Harlan

We received free tickets for this performance in exchange for an honest review