London is no stranger to supernatural this season. While the Barbican explores the future with their new exhibition In Other Worlds, the theatre world brings us Dark of the Moon, a thrilling new musical that brings the haunting mysteries of the Smoky Mountains to Charing Cross Theatre until 8 August.
At its heart, this production is a dark, supernatural fable of forbidden love. John, a wild and ethereal “witch-boy,” gazes down from the craggy peaks and falls desperately in love with a mortal woman, Barbara Allen. Desperate to experience human love, John strikes a high-stakes, year-long bargain with a powerful Conjur Woman: he will be granted humanity, but if Barbara proves unfaithful within the year, he will be dragged back into the shadows forever, and she will lose her life. It’s a beautifully grim setup that blends the tragic romance of Romeo and Juliet with the eerie cautionary nature of traditional folk ballads.
A clash of musical worlds
What makes this production truly ignite is its brilliant, genre-bending score. The creative team has masterfully divided the show’s sonic landscape to mirror the culture clash between the supernatural and the mundane. Thile sounds of the the mortal world is expressed by the townspeople of Buck Creek is expressed through warm, acoustic bluegrass and country melodies and soaring live fiddle arrangements, the world of the magical entities of the mountains hijack the stage with high-voltage, stadium-rock instrumentation, full of heavy drums and electric grit.
There is something uniquely thrilling about descending into the subterranean cavern of the Charing Cross Theatre to witness a story about the eerie, fog-drenched peaks of the Appalachian Mountains. Dark of the Moon—a striking new musical adaptation of Howard Richardson and William Berney’s classic 1945 play—brings a haunting, folklore-infused atmosphere to London’s theatre scene, proving that old legends never truly die; they just find new ways to sing.
This musical friction is guaranteed to keep the audience on its toes, effortlessly shifting the energy of the auditorium from a foot-stomping country social to a dark, arena-rock spectacle.
Standout performances
What makes this production an absolute must-watch for young Londoners is the brilliant, visceral clash of two dynamically polarized worlds playing out on stage. Below, the stage is occupied by a charming, yet fiercely insular, rural Appalachian town, bound by strict traditions and human anxieties. Looming high above is the mystical, ethereal world of witches and warlocks, ruling the shadowy peaks of the mountains.
And the chemistry between the two lead characters adds to the emotional weight of the show. As John, the naive yet intense outsider, delivers a powerhouse vocal performance, effortlessly shifting from animalistic curiosity to soaring rock vocals, opposite him, Barbara Allen is played with a fierce, independent spirit portraying a young woman suffocated by her small town’s rigid expectations, whose voice grounds the production in genuine emotional vulnerability.
But, it is the commanding presence of the Conjur Woman who frequently steals the spotlight. Every time she commands the stage, the atmosphere shifts, delivering a masterclass in vocal control and theatrical menace.
For an audience navigating our own fast-paced, often divided city, Dark of the Moon hits home. It is a powerful allegory about outsiders, the fear of the unknown, and the lengths we will go to for the people we love. Coupled with the famously intimate setting of the Charing Cross Theatre, where you are close enough to feel the mountain mist and the heat of the rock score, this production promises to offer unforgettable music, high-stakes drama, and a touch of dark magic.
Dark of the Moon is now playing at the Charing Cross Theatre. Book your tickets before the magic fades on 8 August. Young theatre goers under 17 go free with every paying adult as part of the Kids Week promotion this summer.
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