The Devil At Midnight

By Brian Clemens

Directed by Chris Churchill

Seen by some as a controversial choice because of the subject matter, this play challenged the audience with something a little different. This play is not, as some mistakenly thought, about child abuse. Instead it is a powerful and claustrophobic psychological drama in which isolated characters are physically and mentally terrorised.

Perfectly suited to the studio The Devil at Midnight was a rivetting, thought-provoking and disturbing play. It provided the perfect end to one of the richest and most diverse Players' seasons in recent years.

The Devil at Midnight ran in the Garrick studio between the 27th and the 31st of May 2008.

Ann Mayo June 5th 2008

The Devil at Midnight Lichfield Players The 'enclosed' atmosphere of the Garrick's Studio leant itself effectively to this chiller of a play.

The Players almost always provide us with excellent productions, but this one really came up trumps. And it was mainly down to Sarah Stanley, who turned in a brilliant performance as Nicki, a woman first, apparently, in need of psychiatric treatment who later turned into a potential killer.

This Brian Clemens play was intensely gripping from start to finish and was a fine tribute to Chris Churchill making her debut as director.

Carol Lawford and Jim Worrallo as the psychiatrist and her social-climber of a husband, turned in good performances and Dickie Bannister was sufficiently menacing as Nicki's brother.

But Sarah Stanley stole the show - her best performance to date in my opinion.

The Studio was packed for the Thursday night performance, as, I believe were subsequent nights - a true sign of the Players' popularity and their choice of play.

A fitting end to what has been another good season.