I’m a big fan of TV murder mysteries but I’ve never seen Midsomer Murders. I am aware of it though thanks to the many well known crazy deaths such as when Martine McCutcheon was crushed by a giant wheel of cheese!
The quintessentially English show has been a television staple since 1997 but it has never been on stage until now.
The theatre production focuses on The Killings at Badger’s Drift, the first book by Caroline Graham, whose novels the series is based on. It was also the story in the first television episode that aired 29 years ago.
In typical Midsomer fashion, the show opens with a death which leads to a whole village of suspects and yet more killings as the police and the audience try to work out who did it.
What plays out is a wonderful bonkers and hilarious couple of hours with some fantastically over the top characters.
Julie Legrand is outstanding as the eccentric Lucy Bellringer, who kicks everything off when she tells chief inspector Tom Barnaby, played by Daniel Casey, that she suspects the death of her best friend Emily Simpson wasn’t due to natural causes.
The rest of the cast are brilliant too. Casey, promoted from when he played Barnaby’s assistant Troy in the TV version, is great as is James Bradwell, his often very confused second in command.
I love a bit of theatre with people moving quickly and convincingly between two characters and, without giving it away, this show has one of the best scenes featuring one person playing two parts that we’ve ever seen!
Also fantastic are John Dougall and Rupert Sadler as the very creepy mother and son Iris and Dennis Rainbird.
The show moves at a fast pace which is supported by an impressive set. A regularly changing digital screen takes us between different parts of the village and furniture and sets slide in and out with great effect.
As with the best crime dramas, there are plenty of twists and turns before the big reveal of who the murderer is.
We weren’t sure how Midsomer Murders would work on stage but we were very pleasantly surprised. It’s a great example of how a TV classic can be successfully converted to a theatre audience.
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Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift is at Theatre Royal Bath until 13 June.
