With a twisty plot, an uncanny setting, and plenty of jumps and jolts, I’ll Be Back Before Midnight is a chilling show to see this fall. Described as a comedy thriller, the play walks an unsettling line where audiences can't be certain if they're about to laugh or shiver. Catch the Palace Theatre’s production of this Canadian horror classic before it closes on November 3!
At the centre of this story is the troubled marriage between Jan (Makayla Ashenden), a young woman recovering from a nervous breakdown, and Greg (Sam Didi), an archaeologist studying at a nearby quarry. To rebuild their strained relationship, the couple rents a country farmhouse from local farmer George (Rob Carver), who wastes no time drinking their liquor and spilling ghost stories.
The couple’s stay is quickly interrupted by the unwanted presence of Greg’s sister, Laura (Teegan Arthur). Besides these four characters, haunted stories and ominous noises are the only company for miles around. The small size of the cast only adds to the feelings of isolation and claustrophobia that pervade the play.
This isn’t the first time director James Patterson has brought one of Peter Colley’s scripts to the Palace Theatre’s stage. Last spring, The Donnellys chilled audiences with the tale of the infamous family massacre that took place in a rural village just outside of London.
Back Before Midnight is similarly steeped in the atmosphere of Southern Ontario, drawing horror from the isolation that can accompany rural living. Colley’s play premiered locally at the Blyth Festival Theatre in 1979. In the decades since, it has become the most produced Canadian thriller and has been translated and performed around the world.
Atmosphere is the most important element of any thriller, and the farmhouse setting is an essential part of this production. Eric Bernard’s beautifully designed set has a gorgeous depth to it, with a staircase and stained glass door visible in the entryway. Lighting designed by Craig Blackley makes it incredibly believable that farm fields and dark skies are just beyond the lace curtains. Props by Colin Arthur add just the right touches to create an immersive backdrop for the unsettling story.
Back Before Midnight is a truly disorienting watch, with plot twists that unfold at a breakneck pace. Events push characters to question reality and are played in such a way that the audience questions the truth of what they’re watching too. Unreliable narrators have long been a trope in horror, especially in literature, but seeing the technique adapted for the stage is uniquely unsettling.
Like Jan, the audience can't trust their eyes and ears in the face of the vicious forces of gaslighting and paranoia. As much as we want to believe Jan, we too can’t determine the truth until the play’s final moments reveal all.
Don’t miss the final performances of I’ll Be Back Before Midnight from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3! Audience members are invited to dress in costume at a special Halloween night performance for the chance to win. Get your tickets here!
Nice review, Izzy!