Inspector Morse: House Of Ghosts - Milton Keynes Theatre

Melting Pot and Birmingham Repertory Theatre are bringing their thrilling co-production, Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts, to Milton Keynes Theatre this March as part of a major UK tour.

A chilling mystery unfolds when a young actress suddenly dies on stage during a performance, and Detective Chief Inspector Morse embarks on a gripping investigation.  What begins as a suspicious death inquiry takes a darker turn when the legendary inspector, together with DS Lewis, uncovers a connection to sinister events in his own past, twenty-five years earlier.

Inspector Morse: House Of Ghosts is based around a theatre group who are putting on a performance of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, The show opens to such with Hamlet and Ophelia on stage.  Sadly, Ophelia dies on stage.  Luckily, Morse is in the audience so immediately halts the production and brings up the house lights (we feel we are part of the show) to preserve the crime scene.  The director is less than happy at this and wants the curtain brought down.  It turns out Morse knows Lawrence as they were both at Oxford University together, ironically playing Hamlet.  I do not want to share too much of the story as to give away the ‘whodunnit’, but suffice to say, its never who you first suspect.

Tom Chambers plays Inspector Morse and these are big shoes to fill after John Thaw made the TV show his own. Nevertheless, Tom is fantastic in the role.  You like him even when he is a bit prickly, judgemental over Lewis’ language because underneath you feel a little sorry for him and understand he is lonely.  Tom holds the audience in the palm of his hands and is extremely watchable on stage.  Lewis is played by Tachia Newall.  Tachia is an excellent Lewis and embodies all the characteristics of the role.  Lewis may not be as well educated as Morse, but his enthusiasm for detective work more than makes up for it.  Tachia and Tom are an excellent duo, fighting crime despite their frustrations from the super.

Jason Done was for me, the star of the show.  Not only did he play the director but also Paul the vicar.  Jason’s director was iconic.  The first time we see him he is in a box shouting to the stage that the curtain must go down.  Jason gives Lawrence an arrogant attitude and believes in discipline, seeing the talent on stage as an extension of his own reputation, so pushes them to be the best.  Jason’s performance felt very realistic for someone who has trod the boards herself.

I need to mention Charlotte Randle who plays Verity.  Her performance gave some light entertainment as a juxtaposition to the more serious scenes.  I absolutely loved Charlotte’s performance of a washed-up actress with an issue with alcohol who just wants another chance to be famous once more.  Charlotte is a force and how she has never been on Midsummer Murders is a travesty.  I may just start up a petition for her to star in the show.

Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts marks the first-ever stage adaptation of the iconic detective. ITV’s long-running Inspector Morse, hailed by Radio Times as ‘The greatest British crime series of all time’.  Based on the novels by Colin Dexter, the hit ITV series, Inspector Morse, starred John Thaw as the erudite Inspector, famed for his love of opera, crosswords and a fine real ale.  Alongside his trusted Sergeant, DS Lewis, played by Kevin Whately, the pair captivated audiences for 13 years and a total of 33 episodes with the programme’s trademark gripping mysteries, intelligent plots and memorable characters. Dexter’s characters continue to enthrall audiences, with House of Ghosts marking the latest chapter in the iconic detective’s career.

For me, someone who loved the TV show, I was genuinely looking forward to this.  But I found the story hard to follow at times and some of the accents made it hard to hear what was being said clearly.  The dialogue needed a slower pace and maybe a simpler way of getting the key facts over to the audience.  

Inspector Morse: House Of Ghosts is at Milton Keynes Theatre until 21 March.