DARK OF THE MOON - CHARING CROSS THEATRE - REVIEW ****

Worlds collide at the Charing Cross Theatre as Dark of the Moon tells the story of a relationship between a human and a Witch, and the events that occur when one makes a deal to leave their world behind to love the other.

Based on a play of the same title by Howard D. Richardson and William Berney, Dark of the Moon takes us into two divided worlds. One - a small community of humans, where one girl in particular - Barbara Allen, who feels different to the others. And in the other, John, a Witch boy from the Coven, falls head over heels in love with her and makes a wager with the Conjur Woman to make him human. Although this allows him to love his sweetheart, the rest of the town don’t take to the new stranger as well as Barbara Allen does.

Dark of the Moon, as a concept, works very well as what is destined to be a cult-classic musical. The storyline, whilst easy to follow, was not without its intricacies and depth - I was fully invested.

Directed by Georgie Rankcom, it’s a surefire hit. In the very intimate Charing Cross Theatre, there is very little wiggle room for mistakes, and Rankcom’s direction ensures that everyone sees every inch of the action. Some really beautiful moments are created within this show, as well as sections of strong tension - Rankcom’s work is that of a genius.

The music for this show is a delightful mixture of soft country blended with musical theatre, and the occasional sprinkling of rock music to complement the supernatural characters in the show. Music and lyrics were written by Lindy Robbins, Dave Bassett and Steve Robson - they have written some really catchy tunes that work perfectly for this show. I found that each song told the story so well - there was not a single number in this that felt out of place. Numbers like Wildflower and Certified Rock Star are among many hits throughout the musical, allowing the cast to not only sing their hearts out but convey so much character and emotion - the music, in my opinion, was the main vessel of storytelling.

One thing that didn’t work for me was Jonathan Prince’s book, which I believe falls flat in places. There were occasions where some of the comedy didn’t land, which was unfortunate as I was really willing it to work. I also felt that it was a little bit simple, force-feeding the plot to the audience, which was already very clear from the songs and the cast performances. That being said, it was considerably stronger in Act 2, packing an emotional punch and creating exciting moments for the ensemble to get involved with the plot outside of just passing comments.

Set design by Libby Todd transports us into the Appalachian town of Buck Creek. Simplistic wooden houses and small set pieces are very effective, giving us enough but not distracting us from the story. Not only did Todd design the set, but also the costumes - giving the Buck Creek residents that Smoky Mountain look whilst maintaining the otherworldliness and uniqueness of the Witches and Conjur people.

Complementing Todd’s work is Jonathan Chan’s lighting design, again using warmer and cooler tones depending on which dimension we were in at the time. All these elements together work perfectly for Dark of the Moon.

This brand new musical is blessed with two of the West End’s strongest leading players - Glenn Adamson as John, and Lauren Jones as Barbara Allen.

Glenn Adamson brings chaotic energy to the role of John, a Witch who wants to become human. Adamson’s stellar vocal talent rocks the auditorium and leaves you wanting more every single time. Roles like this work so well for Glenn Adamson, and it is wonderful to see him bring these supernatural characteristics to life. He makes it fun to watch John discovering and adjusting to human life - it makes for a very in-depth performance.

Lauren Jones is outstanding in the role of Barbara Allen. She creates a beautiful, nuanced character that the audience gets behind in an instant. Her rendition of the song Wildflower was without fault, and her voice suits the country style impeccably.

Other cast standouts included Martin Callaghan as Preacher Haggler, bringing comedic energy and the all-round holiness of a sincere preacher trying to keep the peace not only amongst his people but the Witches and Conjur people too. Wills Mercado’s Floyd Allen, Barbara’s brother, is another fun performance with some lovely vocals and matched well with onstage partner Sophia Duncan as Ella, who shone brightly throughout with her excitable and curious character.

Josie Benson blew the roof off the Charing Cross Theatre with powerhouse vocals as the Conjur Woman, bringing otherworldly realness and light and shade in equal measure throughout her performance.

This new musical has heart by the bucketload and, with a little bit of book work, I believe this could be a major success and gain a cult following very quickly. Sometimes, taking a gamble on a new musical can be a tricky decision, but it is musicals like Dark of the Moon at the Charing Cross Theatre that make it all worthwhile.

If you have the means to do so, go and check out this brand new epic tale at the Charing Cross Theatre. Tickets can be found on their website here. It is a couple of hours full of catchy songs, captivating plot twists and an energetic cast that will blow your socks off. I urge you to see it if you can before it closes on the 8th August - it is no wonder the show has been nominated for a number of Fringe Theatre Awards.

Let me know what you think if you have seen the show: robbiesbackstagebants@gmail.com

2nd June 2026

Robbie Davies | Robbie's Backstage Bants