A Murder Is Announced

I’m a great lover of Agatha Christie but although I have read all her murder mysteries and constantly catch up with Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot on TV, I rarely remember who actually dunnit!  This is in some ways a benefit because when I see a production such as this, the ending usually comes as somewhat of a surprise.

 

Director Charisse Goddard who said in the programme notes that she only had a vague idea about the character of Miss Marple did extremely well in producing this piece and the first thing we, the audience, saw was the ideal set and we were straight into the drawing room of Little Paddocks in the village of Chipping Cleghorn.

This is a very “wordy” play with a lot for the characters to learn. There were some prompts along the way but this didn’t detract too much from the story as it went along.  Characters abound in this sort of thing and they were all played extremely well by the whole cast.

Sue Beck gave us a Miss Marple who was right in every degree down to the obligatory knitting.  Sue Davis played Dora Bunner, known affectionately as Bunny and was beautifully fluttery and nervy, just as the part required and Stephanie Huxley as Mitzi gave a great performance as the hot tempered maid who was convinced that everyone was against her.

Kirsti Koster-Bennett played Letitia Blacklock in great style and the rest of the cast worked well giving the audience the opportunity to get their thinking hats on and try to solve the mystery before Miss Marple did!

All the backstage staff are to be congratulated for all the many jobs that have to be carried out ie sound & lighting, set design & construction, wardrobe and a myriad other tasks that have to be done for this type of production to work.

Well done Haven Players for bringing murder and mystery to Stone Cross!

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