Off West End review (PR/Gifted)
Given the rise in popularity of romance and fantasy genres, it clear why the Dark of the Moon would appeal to audiences – especially as it is a musical. However, the incredibly high standard set by the cast, songs and score are not matched by the quality of the dialogue and some of the narrative choices.
Directed by Georgie Rankcom and loosely inspired by Scottish/English folklore and the centuries-old song “The Ballad of Barbara Allen”, Dark of the Moon tells the story of a human girl – Barbara Allen, and a Witch Boy – John, and their seemingly incompatible love story in rural America. She is part of a community that loves normalcy and tradition which makes her feel trapped and like she is destined for more, and he is part of a hedonistic and overtly sexual coven and wants to feel something more. So naturally the two become close and John begs the matriarchal Conjur Woman to make him human, which she does, but warns him that if either of them are unfaithful, he will become immortal again and have to return to his coven – and leave Barbara Allen behind.
This is a strong premise, and one that has been told many times by other supernatural romantasy stories: think if a supernatural Romeo & Juliet was set in Oklahoma! So from the start it promises to be an interesting story filled with brilliant music.
As the story develops, the contrasting worlds that the two live in are brought into focus and are made more intense by the couples’ tender romance and the obvious supernatural factor. This core relationship is a real strength of this production – but it is the dialogue and narrative choices which lets it down slightly. Jonathan Prince’s book sometimes lacks subtlety and makes every line that should have been left to the imagination of the audience, a little on the nose. Also, several attempts at comedic relief either do not land or feel slightly tonally misplaced, which jars the pace of the story. Several characters are introduced and they are not fleshed out, so they feel slightly 2D in places. Pacing is also an issue, and maybe if a couple of scenes are trimmed down or cut, the show would be more fluid. The potential is there, it just needs more time to develop.
The songs and score (written by Lindy Robbins, Dave Bassett, and Steve Robson) are also a huge strength of this show. There is an eclectic mixture of ballads, rock, and folk which is highly enjoyable, and the songs themselves are extremely catchy and are strongly delivered by the cast and ensemble. The different musical genres are used to reflect the two ‘worlds’ which is an effective way to give layers to the narrative – and the live band and Dillon Kondor’s orchestrations are marvellous. However sometimes the sound levels are a problem, and lyrics are lost when the music is too loud, and the volume is sometimes slightly uncomfortable too.
The cast perform excellently. The witches prowl around on the rafters of Libby Todd’s set with an almost feline presence and provide a stark contrast to the townsfolk with their rags and grey complexions. Glenn Adamson embodies John and his journey perfectly, and his vocals are incredible – particularly in ‘Certified Rockstar’ which lit up the stage. Lauren Jones is spectacular as Barbara Allen – she is likeable, passionate, and resolute. Vocally, she shows such an incredible range – from the melodic ‘Wildflower’ to the rock style of ‘Unthinkable’, she is consistent and exceptional. Together, their chemistry is believable and their voices suit each other very well.
The striking lighting design by Jonathan Chan really helps to lift the production and immerse the audience. He bathes the coven in purple and blue light, whilst the townspeople are bright and cheerful – and this adds atmosphere and plenty of dramatic moments.
There are points of strength in this production, and the cast does well with the material. The mixture of different genres of music blends well with the narrative and are complemented by some brilliant performances. There are a few issues that could benefit from further development, but Dark of the Moon is a very entertaining evening and is the start of a great production.
Dark of the Moon runs until 8th August at Charing Cross Theatre.
Buy your tickets here: https://charingcrosstheatre.tixtrack.com/shop/tickets/series/DOTM
Written by Helena Featherstone
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