Review – The Other Side of Murder – Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne and National Tour

Forget the cosy family catch-up — The Other Side of Murder turns dinner into a delicious disaster! Throw in a celebrity TV medium, a pregnant mistress, simmering family feuds, spooky surprises and a truckload of explosive secrets into one house, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for absolute theatrical mayhem.

Written by Torben Betts and directed by Philip Franks, this deliciously crazy comedy thriller is exactly the sort of theatrical night out that keeps you guessing while making you laugh at the most inappropriate moments. At the heart of the chaos is Darius Divine, a celebrity TV medium whose seemingly innocent family dinner soon descends into a bizarre and sinister nightmare. Before long, the boundaries between what’s real and what’s supernatural become dangerously blurred.

In the central role, Rufus Hound brings bags of comic timing and enough nervous energy to power the entire household. As Darius Divine, the celebrated television medium at the centre of the unfolding chaos, his performance gives the production much of its pace, and watching Darius attempt to keep control as his carefully arranged family gathering descends into mayhem is one of the show’s real pleasures.

He is perfectly matched by Susie Blake, whose presence as the Gilbert & Sullivan obsessed mother-in-law gives the production a wonderful mixture of warmth, mischief and theatrical authority. She brings an eccentric charm to the role, with impeccable comic timing and a wonderfully expressive performance that makes every moment a real treat.

Carla Mendonça, makes a terrific impression as Darius’s wife Susannah, bringing plenty of energy, warmth and personality to the role. She handles the comedy beautifully while also adding a sense of intrigue that keeps you wondering what might be lurking beneath the surface.

Playing the mistress, Aisha Jawando is a revelation as Laura. She gives the character a lively, confident presence that immediately grabs your attention. She delivers every line with the passion of a woman who wants to be more than the “bit on the side” and brings a real sense of unpredictable danger to the increasingly chaotic proceedings.

Beth Lilly is equally enjoyable as Jen, Darius Divine’s estranged daughter who has returned from Australia where she now lives. As the evening takes its increasingly bizarre turns, Jen finds herself drawn deeper into the family drama — and Lilly makes her a thoroughly engaging presence along the way. Andy McLeod completes the principal cast as Laura’s husband Jason, rounding out an ensemble that works brilliantly together.

The real star, however, may be the sheer pace of the thing. There is barely time to settle before another revelation arrives, another relationship becomes complicated or another sinister development threatens to turn the evening upside down. Just when you think you’ve got the measure of what is happening, the show happily pulls the rug away again.

And that’s where The Other Side of Murder really hits the sweet spot. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it takes its audience seriously enough to keep delivering surprises. The comedy is broad without becoming too farcical, the thriller elements have genuine bite, and the supernatural touches add just the right amount of spooky seasoning. The result is glorious theatrical chaos.

There is plenty here for mystery fans, comedy lovers and anyone who simply enjoys watching a roomful of people make spectacularly bad decisions. With its mixture of family secrets, romantic complications, paranormal surprises and murder-mystery mayhem, it’s a very entertaining production.

The Other Side of Murder is not a quiet little whodunit, it’s a killer night out!

****    Four Stars