Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts is a stage adaptation of the much beloved ITV show from Colin Dexter’s detective world centering around the curmudgeonly Detective Morse and his quippy partner, Detective Sergeant Lewis. The play opens with a familiar scene, but not the one fans of the show may have been expecting. Hamlet monologues with classic, shakespearean flair and Ophelia sweeps onto the stage. The audience are briefly transported to an entirely different and more whimsical setting before Ophelia’s untimely and unscripted onstage death reminds us that this is a Morse Murder Mystery and the stakes are high.
We are introduced to several thespy characters from the Hamlet production, any of whom could have been behind the dramatic, public death of the starlet. Another layer of interest is added when many of the characters reveal their connections to Morse’s Oxford Uni days and we realise there may be skeleton-filled closets in this house of ghosts.
What follows is an intriguing, tangled mystery that certainly left me on the edge of my seat. Tom Chambers as Morse gives what felt like an easy and naturalist performance of the irascible character that will be very familiar to fans of the ITV show, or the novels themselves. Another stand out performance was that of Robert Mountford, who played the sleazy, shouty play director as well as the severe Monsignor, both of whom knew Morse as a student. I also particularly enjoyed the boozy theatrics of Verity (played by Charlotte Randle), a washed up actress hoping for a revival.
The pacing is steady and suspense is maintained with well-timed twists and reveals. I think the production’s strength was in its atmospheric design. Though the stage was small, I felt I could easily discern complex room layouts – a huge credit to the lighting and sound engineers. There were several scenes taking place in more than one room at the same time and it worked really well. The stage direction was seamless and well timed, and the props contributed perfectly to each scene. I love a good prop.
Overall, House of Ghosts is a thoughtful and engaging murder mystery that will appeal to fans of the classical detective drama, but easily translate and intrigue to those (like me) who are new to the world.
Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts is in the New Theatre until the 31st of January.
Whether you’re already a fan, or new to the character, you won’t want to miss this evening of immersive story-telling, tension-filled cast interactions and shocking twists.
