A Murder is Announced

As the evenings get longer and winter approaches with a vengeance, there’s nothing better than a good mystery to warm the cockles and who better than the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie herself, accompanied by New Kinver Players to provide a great whodunnit.

The stage at the Edward Marsh Centre was delightfully filled with a very impressive set depicting the drawing room of Little Paddocks in Chipping Cleghorn, the home of Letitia Blacklock and her eclectic relatives. All credit to the Graphic Design and Set Building Team.

The various TV adaptations and numerous outings of the stage play never seem to dent any of the enjoyment and thrill that you get when watching the plot twist and turn, even though you may know the outcome (no spoilers I promise!) it is still a cosy and heart-warming journey getting there and Phil Drinkwater’s production comfortingly coaxed you along the road.

The central character, Letitia Blacklock was very capably in the hand of Lee Knight, showing us just the right amount of affront and indignation that such an event as the local newspaper foretold of the impending murder to take place at her home. Her ungrateful relatives, some of who turn out to not exactly be what they seem, were deliciously portrayed with their various traits and foibles by the first rate team performances of Sue Portsmouth (Julia Simmons) Oliver Smith (Patrick Simmons) and Chrissy Coleman (Phillipa Haymes) who each, in their turn, tested Miss Blacklock’s kindness and patience to the extreme. A delightful performance by Diana McCann as Dora Bunner, Miss Blacklock’s dear friend and confidante and the completely unpredictable but hugely endearing maid, Mitzi, played with great comic timing by Georgina Johnston, made up the household.

Uninvited but suitably nosey guests arrived on the scene in the form of the neighbours, Mrs Swettenham, played by Diane Baugh and her, brought under sufferance son, Edward, played by Bill Heeks joined the party covering their curiosity by clever characterisation of the concerned friend.

One of Christie’s most adorable and unlikely characters, complete the guest list – the redoubtable, Miss Marple, the elderly and wise spinster of many a Christie story, is completely at home in this village setting and equally at home was Liz Spark, who showed a complete empathy with this demanding role and all the more remarkable as she had only stepped in recently to take on the part.

No good Christie can do without the incompetent yet essential constabulary in the form of Richard Delahaye and Chris Lees as Inspector Craddock and Sergeant Mellors, demonstrating their long-suffering annoyance with the incisive logic of their eccentric crime solver with humour and frustration in equal measure. Talking of which – a murder was announced and Jack Kearns (a new member and part of the Graphic Design Team) gave an albeit brief appearance playing Rudi Scherz, the . . . . . but my lips are sadly sealed if I reveal any more!

A truly enjoyable evening celebrating New Kinver Players 40th Year of presenting plays, thank you for your kind invitation and it was lovely to meet you all. Looking forward to 2 One-Act Comedies in May 2024.

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