Review: Dark of the Moon Charing Cross theatre
Star rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Dark of the Moon is a new, powerful, timeless, and spellbinding musical playing at the Charing Cross Theatre until the 8th of August. It portrays a polarised world, but will these two forces combine, or will they clash? On one side, we have a charming rural Appalachian town; on the other side, we are greeted by the mystical world of witches and warlocks based in the Smoky Mountains that loom high above. The show features a unique musical score written by Lindy Robbins, Dave Bassett, and Steve Robson, reflecting the two distinct worlds by using a thrilling blend of country, bluegrass, and rock!
During the story, we meet Barbara Allen (played by Lauren Jones), a human girl, and John (played by Glenn Adamson), a curious witch boy. They find each other, and coming from completely different backgrounds, they look for a way to build a life together. But will love conquer the space between both worlds, or will they be haunted by a deal that was made by the dark of the moon? Inspired by the book written by Jonathan Prince and based on a play by Howard D. Richardson and William Berney
Furthermore, the cast includes: Sue Appleby as Gemma Allen. Joining them are Josie Benson as the Conjur Woman, Jordan Broatch as Devin, Martin Callaghan as Preacher Haggler, Sophia Duncan as Ella Bergen, and David-Michael Johnson as Mr Wharton, and three incredible onstage swings:
Walking into the Charing Cross Theatre for Dark of the Moon, I was incredibly curious to see how this new musical adaptation of the classic folk ballad would come together. The show's core concept is undeniably beautiful and holds great international potential, but the final execution left me with mixed feelings.
Right from the start, the audience is welcomed by the ballad singer. Her voice is absolutely incredible, and she instantly puts you in the perfect mindset for the show. Another massive highlight is the chemistry between Lauren Jones and Glenn Adamson. Their connection on stage is completely feelable, bringing a genuinely warm, beautiful energy to the production.
The show also shines in its visual transitions between the two realms, using lighting brilliantly to shift between worlds. When we are in the human world, the lighting captures a real, classic American country feeling. But the moment we cross over, the lights shift, creating a dark, supernatural atmosphere. Both worlds are portrayed in totally different but beautiful ways.
However, the production struggles with its pacing, which often feels far too rushed. In one scene the leads meet, five minutes later they are married, and right after the interval, she is already pregnant. The stakes are incredibly high—John, a witch boy, wants to become human, but to survive the spell, Barbara Allen must remain faithful. Unfortunately, the run-up to this climax and the logic behind the spell feel a bit disjointed and not quite whole.
This rushed writing also affected the supernatural scenes. The witches were acting wild but also had slower, strange movements, meaning I really struggled to enjoy those moments on stage. While their musical numbers were undeniably electrifying, the energy felt so dialed-up and "next level" that it became overwhelming. Because of this, I actually found myself enjoying the grounded human side of the story much more.
Unfortunately, my experience was also slightly impacted by the audience environment. A neighbouring patron laughed constantly at minor details, which felt quite distracting during the more serious moments of the performance.
Ultimately, Dark of the Moon still has immense potential to grow. The vocal talent and the central chemistry are already there. If the creative team can tighten the script, smooth out the pacing, and clarify the supernatural elements, this production could easily mature into a deeply compelling addition to the global musical theatre landscape.
Photo’s are taken by Tom Bowles Photography
