A Lesson In Murder

Last night we were entertained with a  Murder Mystery at Needham Market. It was good to see lots of old faces along with many new members all getting involved.  Director, Lesley also wanted me to pass on their grateful thanks to all those cast and members who had helped with the enormous task of washing and sorting all their costumes after the flood.  This happened during their Panto in February and ever since then they have been sorting costumes with many having to be destroyed.  We wish them well with their ongoing task.

The script written by Sarah France had a good mix of diverse characters who were all school teachers,  before the Head Mistress, Carmel (Sally Lord)  was murdered. She had not been liked by both the staff and the pupils, so it seemed that many of the cast had good reason to want to see her killed off.

The  assembled school teachers  all demonstrated at some point why they may have had a motive for committing the murder, and all played their parts well.  Sarah France played Vanessa Jackson, along with John Chapman who was Tim Smith.  It was them who found the body and both seem to have very dubious pasts  that couldn’t be  easily  explained.  The two other female members of staff were  Amy and Libby  (Lucy Hughes and Rhianna Melton),  both have complicated stories from their past  which could give them motives.  The other teachers were  Claude Verte (Tom Coomber) who kept his French accent throughout, Karl Woods, the geography teacher,  who was played by Brandon Chambers and finally  Derek Biggins the sports master,  who was played by  Andy France. The evidence certainly points to Derek as he was about to go to the sports field  to organise some races and it was the finishing tape  that  he carried which was used to  strangle the Head.   DI Harry Kilmore, a suitably disheveled and disorganised policeman (Simon Hughes) was then called into investigate the murder as he questioned  the staff.  

There was an unusual twist to the plot in the final scene when the person who was arrested, was not actually the killer and after he is lead off,  the real killer reveals all!!!  The cast were very all convincing in their characterisations, especially so when they were being cross questioned by the DI with questions that had been raised by the audience. Not an easy task to perform as they are put on the spot to improvise whilst being questioned, especially so for those new members.   

This was a well directed production in the hands of Lesley, bringing out the best in her cast. The sound lighting and costumes all looked effective.  

The audience were very appreciative and all certainly  entered into the spirit of the evening,  writing down lots of questions to put to the cast and then at the end, guessing as to who they thought was the murderer.  Well done to all the cast and crew for a very enjoyable evening. 

Catherine Dixey. NODA East Representative District E12

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