Alma Cullen’s Inspector Morse: House Of Ghosts, is the first stage play in the Morse oeuvre. The play had been toured in 2010 and broadcast, in an edited version, on BBC Radio 4 seven years later but I assume that the majority of the audiences would come to this as a totally new piece. Cullen has taken the essence of the TV series and transported it to the stage with aplomb.
There are several ghosts in the play: that of Morse’s Oxford truncated academic life and those who inhabited it, Hamlet’s ghosts as well as the secrets of the murdered which ultimately bring us to the denouement.
Colin Richmond’s design for the production is slickly controlled by movable furniture and props, transported on and off by the cast, to create each scene. I particularly liked the on stage scenes which we view from the performers’ aspect looking out onto the audience. Lizzie Powell’s lighting design is a dream in which she created a faultless atmosphere for each scene heightening the tension.
I’m not going to drop any spoilers as to the story as I would like you to experience that for yourself by seeing the play. Suffice to say that during a production of Hamlet there is a death and Inspector Morse is present to investigate.
Tom Chambers as Morse, in my eyes, made the error of pulling too much John Thaw into his performance. He did a good job, but the facial contortions were a step too far for me. However, I was delighted by his performance in the scene with his former girlfriend where he did what Morse found it so difficult to do; to open his heart somewhat. That was utterly charming and touching.
Robert Mountford’s Lawrence (Hamlet’s director) was deliciously ghastly and irritating. I doubt that there could have been a single audience member who didn’t find him vile!
For me it was Charlotte Randle’s tortured, fading start, Verity which won my vote for performance of the night. She was beautifully self-obsessed and totally incapable of keeping her own counsel. I adored her.
At times the performances were ‘over the top’ and perhaps director Anthony Banks should have pulled them back down. However, as the production is well into this UK tour, I doubt he is present at every performance.
Passionate Morse fans will, I believe, love it or hate it with the balance being to the former.
Venue: Theatre Royal Brighton
Dates: Tuesday 21 – Saturday 25 October
Evenings 7.30pm | Matinees Wed, Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-brighton
