Arts Theatre Cronulla’s production of Mark Kilmurry and Jamie Oxenbould’s ‘Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall’ is a delight. Susan Turner has directed a tight and skilled ensemble to deliver each joke with aplomb and endear each of the odd duck characters to the audience.
The script is whip-smart and moves along at a really enjoyable pace, featuring the highs and lows of a fictional amateur theatre company on an ill-fated opening night of a show. Despite the murder mystery tropes evoked by the name, there’s plenty more than clues and sleuths on offer here. This is a production that is finely tuned, and delivers the chaos of the show with both levity and (as evidenced by the entirely convincing comedy of errors that ensues) precision.
Angela Gibson is consistently excellent in ATC productions and this is no exception; her comic timing as Karen is stellar. Playing an amateur actor playing a role on stage for the first time is a task with considerable layers that she carries in style. Some of the biggest laughs of the first act came from her deadpan and witty delivery. Her interactions with the offstage character of her teenage niece (voiced by Arianne "Flossie" Hough) are hilarious, and Gary Clark’s sound production across the show is excellent, with one of Act Two’s biggest laughs coming from an aural gag that the actors onstage respond to.
Michael Gooley’s Shane is the heart of the show; a director and writer genuinely invested in both his cast and the play they’re attempting to pull off despite setbacks. His earnestness and timing lay the groundwork for a large number of the big laughs of the show, and does a great job at connecting us to the emotional stakes for the whole (fictional) company. Gooley’s performance also lays the groundwork for the other actors to shine; Shane’s confidence that it’s all possible regardless of all the comic mishaps is the key to the movement of the whole second act.
Phillipa is a character who sets the comedic tone for the entire show, and Ariane ‘Flossie’ Hough does a fantastic job. Her vocal and physical comedy are really strong, and Phillipa’s vanity manages to be endearing rather than alienating in her capable hands. Samuel Owen’s entry to the show was a highlight, and his Richard is a fantastic addition to the ensemble.
Brendan Jones’ Barney has the most costume changes of any track in the show, which is saying something. Jones nails the difficult task of the proud Barney’s attempts at accents, and nails the timing on a number of jokes that rely on extended pauses. Jones’ physicality is a stand-out, and the pace of his changes matched with the volume of lines he covers in the show within the show are skilfully handled.
The set (designed by Michael Gooley) is wonderful - perfectly pitched. The joke-per-minute and joke-per-square-metre ratio of this production is excellent; there is a stack of suitcases, a painting and a door that all have their own comic moments in the sun. The costuming, similarly, is very well done.
There are opportunities at every turn for comedy to ensue; hats and pants, walking sticks and slow exits all drew laughs from the audience. This is a really enjoyable and well executed production that I would really recommend.
To book tickets to Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall, please visit https://www.artstheatrecronulla.com.au/midnightmurderathamlingtonhall.
Photographers: Maria Franklin, Mark Phillips, Dan Binger, Graham West
