A Fete Worse Than Death

Stonehaven Town Hall was transformed into the village green of  Thornton, a typical English village, on the day of the annual fete – complete with sideshows and stalls and festooned with colourful bunting. The stage had been turned into the Home Produce and Vegetable marquee, the setting for Richard James’s comedy mystery, ready for the evening’s entertainment. And entertainment the full house audience certainly got from the cast of 7 and the script full of red herrings and witty dialogue! Pete Smith, a last minute cast replacement, played the part of the irritating Malcolm obsessed with winning the largest marrow competition very well. His murder towards the end of Act 1 was not unexpected!  Heather Adams Officer as Bunny, his long suffering and neglected wife, was excellent as was Mary Miller as Trish the put-upon and overworked fete organiser. Tim Roberts, as the less than honest Father Mike, looked every inch the typical village vicar. Andrew Dart, as Nigel the historical re-enactor and admirer of Bunny, in his Viking warrior costume and increasing intoxication was hilarious. We had our victim, we had our suspects but who was going to solve the murder! This was in the hands of the wonderful comic pairing of Garry Brindley and Liz Forrest as TV detective Inspector Brady aka Ray Martin and his greatest fan local spinster Violet Parmenter. Almost “Rosemary and Thyme”-ish they worked their way through each of the suspects until stumbling on the truth almost by accident! Who did kill Malcolm? Well as the old adage has it – many hands make light work! Well done everyone concerned for a delightful summer’s evening entertainment.  

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