Midsomer on stage - a darkly comic delight

REVIEW: 'Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift' at The New Theatre

There's a piece of theatrical history taking place at the New Theatre this week - the first stage production of the long-running and hugely popular TV crime favourite Midsomer Murders.

The Killings at Badger's Drift was the very first episode of this ITV staple, based on Caroline Graham's 1987 novel and reaching the screen a decade or so later, it now finds its way to the stage in a very entertaining production from writer-director Guy Unsworth.

When an elderly spinster is found dead in her home in the picturesque village of Badger’s Drift, her friend refuses to accept it was an accident.

She persuades Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby and his sidekick Detective Sergeant Gavin Troy to investigate.

They soon discover not just a murder, but a host of hidden secrets, passions and rivalries under the thin veneer of respectability in this small - but far from dulll - community.

Barnaby, originally played by John Nettles on TV, is here portrayed by Daniel Casey - the man who played Troy in the original nearly 30 years ago, and now promoted to the lead role.

Casey captures Barnaby perfectly - a gentle, quietly confident presence, whose relaxed manner belies a razor-sharp mind. It's not quite an impersonation of Nettles in the role, but it's close enough to make the character reassuringly familiar.

One of the unusual characteristics of Midsomer Murders, to my mind, has always been that its lead is a quiet, ordinary man doing his job well. In a genre which seems to demand a detective with a deep backstory or at least a distinguishing character quirk, Barnaby has no booze or gambling problem, no shady past, and not even a distinctive car.

Far from making Barnaby boring, this puts him outside the norm - he's the one who stands out from his TV detective rivals.

His sergeant, Gavin Troy (James Bradwell), might disagree with such praise, though. He's sometimes frustrated with Barnaby's refusal to jump to the obvious conclusion, as well as with his reluctance to recognise his team's (that's basically Troy's) work or to suggest a pint as a reward.  

The play, of course, can't recreate the beautiful rural scenery of England's deadliest county in the TV show (though the set design and lighting come close), but it makes up for that in other ways - notably by steering us into darkly comic territory - this village is full of weird characters, who wouldn't be out of place in The League of Gentlemen's Royston Vasey.

There are some genuinely surreal moments, which are a world away from the common perception of the TV show, but which enhance this very engaging production.

That's not to say this won't appeal to regular viewers of the TV version. Far from it. This is very entertaining play, which will delight fans of the series, as well as anyone who enjoys a high-quality whodunnit.

The supporting cast, all playing multiple roles, are truly excellent: kudos to Nathalie Barclay, Chandrika Chevli, John Dougall, Julie Legrand, Rupert Sadler, Chris Agha, and Rhian Crowley-McLean.

The staging is similarly impressive, with scenery dropping or sliding into place - sometimes seamlessly, sometimes comically, sometimes almost spookily. And the production owes much to David Woodhead for the set and costumes, Matt Haskins (lighting), and Ella Wahlstrom (sound).

With endearing characters, excellent performances, and a final what-the-heck! twist, this production is highly recommended.

It also reminded me I'd written this little piece about contrasting TV rural murders almost a decade ago: Countrycide: Midsomer smiles while Hinterland snarls

Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift is at the New Theatre until Saturday 4 April. Tickets are available from the box office 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