I’ll Be Back Before Midnight!

I’ll Be Back Before Midnight has been described by the Toronto Globe & Mail as the most widely produced stage play in Canadian history!  It has been produced in 30 countries, broken numerous box office records and has been made into a Hollywood feature film starring Heather Locklear, Ned Beatty, Robert Carradine, and Susannah York.  

Originally staged in 1985, it still sets an audience thinking, though with the advent of blockbuster movies and CGI some of the gruesome moments have lost their ability to terrify.

Performed on a set that seems to rust before our eyes, while providing the necessary gloomy corners for actors to cower in or lurk before attack, we are introduced to Greg Sanderson who has rented a bleak farmhouse in the middle of nowhere to help with his wife Jan’s recovery following a nervous breakdown. She has just been released from hospital and is not overly thrilled with his gesture but agrees to make the best of it, until Greg reveals that his sister Laura will be joining them for a few days.

Greg and Laura’s complicated and somewhat incestuous relationship was the catalyst for Jan’s breakdown and she is extremely upset at the prospect of the three of them spending time together.

Farmer George Willowby, who rented the house to Greg,  pops over on their arrival to welcome the couple. He takes pleasure in revealing the history of the house and the re-telling of ghostly tales of the area. Is what follows a figment of Jan’s disturbed mind or a real ghost?

Director Gigi Jeffers paces the play nicely, building up to the climatic revelation with never a dull spot. I particularly enjoyed her use of Erik Satie’s ‘Gymnopedies’ and ‘Gnossiennes’ to accentuate the suspense. The quiet, relentless nature of these pieces built the atmosphere superbly.

Nic Betts gives us a very believable Greg. He has a natural quality that endears his character to us and unlike many tall actors, he uses his height to his advantage. An admirable performance, particularly considering he has had a 17-year break from the stage!

Nicole Walker’s Jan has the necessary fragility both of body and mind and really’ hits her straps’ in Act Two. She is well matched to Betts, but could use a wider vocal range in Act One. Her scenes with Willowby are a joy to watch.

Genevieve Hudson’s Laura is sultry, seductive and everything that a brother should not be desiring. She plays the unwanted ‘meat in the sandwich’ to the hilt and makes the most of her unexpected appearance in Act Two.

John Hudson’s George Willowby, the eccentric next-door neighbour, is a delight! With a solid regional accent and impeccable timing, Hudson nails every laugh line and seems really at home with the character. As a sideline he is the real-life father to Genevieve who plays Laura.

Tea Tree Players are well known for their sets and this production is no exception. The choice of a rusty maroon wall colour gives lighting designer Mike Phillips a fine canvas to work his magic as has Damon Hill’s scenic art designs.

I’ll Be Back Before Midnight marks Tea Tree Players return to fully-realised productions for 2022 and an excellent choice - humour, suspense and a healthy amount of underlying sexual tension and gore!

Barry Hill