Dark of the Moon has arrived at Charing Cross Theatre and is set to have a supernatural run!
Dark of the Moon is a new musical set in the past near the Smoky Mountains in the United States. This musical tells the tale of a love story that tries to bridge the gaps that divide two communities: a human settlement and a coven of witches and warlocks. The musical is inspired by a play with the same title. This play has previously run in both New York City and in London and is even strongly referenced in Stranger Things: The First Shadow. In turn, the play was inspired by a folk song titled “The Ballad of Barbara Allen”.
The musical follows Barbara Allen, a human girl, and John, a witch boy, who fall in love against all odds. Their love inevitably pushes their respective communities to extreme measures, putting their relationship to the test. Despite its supernatural premise (which shares some themes with Hadestown), this new musical addresses issues that are very human and relevant in the present day, such as prejudice and alienation. This is achieved in an effective and clever way that sparks compassion from the audience and may leave more than one thinking about the story and its implications after the curtain drops.
The storytelling is strengthened by the songs, many of which are powerful, moving, and showcase the great talent of the cast, particularly that of the two leads: Lauren Jones and Glenn Adamson. Beyond telling the story and setting the emotional stakes, the music is used in a clever way to distinguish between the human and the supernatural by contrasting country music and rock and by shifting between acoustic and electric guitar depending on the side of the story the song is telling. A selection of songs is available on Spotify and Apple Music. While most of the songs work very well, a few of them are a bit over the top and do not contribute to telling the story as much as other songs.
On the production side, the set is fantastic and feels believable. The use of light and smoke creates a mystical atmosphere and helps convey the use of spells in a convincing way. After the performance, I was left wondering how some of the spells and quick changes were performed, which certainly adds an extra layer to the show.
Dark of the Moon has only just started its run at Charing Cross Theatre, where it will continue performing until 8 August. Do try to see this fantastic show if you can! Do not let the hot weather discourage you, the theatre is perfectly air-conditioned, so it is a great place to be in the middle of a heatwave. As a suggestion, the production does touch adult themes so it may not be suitable for a younger audience.
Complimentary tickets for this performance were provided by the production. We wish Dark of the Moon a fantastic run!
Gonzalo
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