Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall

Here’s a tight, bright theatrical farce that should brighten anyone’s Christmas viewing. What the actual story is about, or who the main characters are, or what or where is Hamlington Hall... I’d guess there’s not a single member of the packed audience at the opening night who could tell you. To them it didn’t matter: they’d had a jolly good laugh.

Written by the Ensemble’s long-running Artistic Director Mark Kilmurry and Writer/Actor Jamie Oxenbould, Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall is in two halves. In Part One we meet the amateur Middling Cove Players ('Sydney's North Shore Premier Am-Dram Society') who will present the play this very night, and learn that seven (seven!) members are not turning up for various reasons, probably related to Covid.

Never mind, the show must go on, the local authority is coming to watch, it’s very important, etc, etc. In Part Two, the four remaining actors decide to plough on, after drawing up rickety plans for doubling and tripling their parts. Anybody could see these misbegotten plans are doomed but, in the true spirit of farce, they plunge into certain catastrophe.

Led by their uncertain director Shane (Sam O’Sullivan), the resolute company set about filling all the gaps. Fortunately, leading lady Phillipa (Eloise Snape) has been spared the dreaded lurgy, as has Barney (Jamie Oxenbould), an actor with utter confidence in his small abilities. Determination and luck will rule the day.

That leaves Karen (Ariadne Sgouros) the busy if unconnected Stage Manager, there under council orders. She must make every effort to keep the Players happy which is hardly possible under the circumstances. Of course she now becomes an actor and, still in her Stage Manager’s tee-shirt, wears some outer costumes and large hats.

Unexplained is the big and brilliant setting (by Simon Greer), showing that the little company is capable of mounting extreme sets when required. Lighting is by Verity Hampson; Sound Design by Daryl Wallis.

On hand for the first night is the program and complete script, published by Currency Press, sure sign that this funny play is ready for action.

BUY THE SCRIPT HERE.

Frank Hatherley

Photographer: Prudence Upton.