A Murder is Announced

 Honiton Community Theatre Company

A Murder is Announced

Written by Agatha Christie

Adapted by Leslie Darbon

Directed & Produced by Pat Scully

The Beehive, Honiton

Thursday 7th August 2025

‘Tricia Barclay, NODA SW Representative District 6

As is usual with this Company we received a very warm welcome on arrival and were kindly guided to perfectly positioned seats in the packed auditorium.

The acting space in this venue is big, very wide and deep, but when the lights went up the group had worked their normal magic, as expected, creating a typical drawing-room in true Agatha Christie style. Complete with the obligatory sofa and standard-lamp, there was even a huge, panned window upstage giving a glimpse out into the garden, with an attractive panel of trellis behind.

The well-known Miss Marple theme from the TV series set the scene further for the action to come and was used throughout for the scene changes.

Various personalities were currently to be found staying with Letitia Blacklock some  permanently and others only on a temporary basis. 

Poor Dora (Bunny) Bunner, Letitia’s long-standing companion is quite disturbed when she is initially unable to find the latest edition of the local newspaper. She became further agitated and the plot thickened when finally getting her hands on it she read out an intriguing “announcement” that a murder would take place in the house that evening at 6.30pm.

Letitia laughed it off and proceeded to organise refreshments for the “unexpected guests”, who having read the announcement, she felt sure would drop-in dead-on time!

Of course, Miss Marple was very quickly on the scene and when the predicted murder did take place was more than keen to give the benefit of her advice and expertise to the police Inspector!

There were lots of red herrings in the story and some characters proved not be who they were supposed to be at the outset! A lucrative inheritance emerged as the centre of the plot and relatives from years gone by, who had never actually met, turned out to be staying in the house under false pretences. 

Poor Bunny was obviously totally confused and at times referred to Letitia as Lottie, so of course she had to be dispatched as well – but was it poison in her “Delicious Death” birthday cake or something more sinister? Dun, dun, dun!

HCTC is a very inclusive group, and this production was no exception with several fresh faces on stage and those with less experience given a chance to “have a go”.

For the performer playing Miss Marple, it was her first time treading the boards and she did very well, bringing out the idiosyncrasies of this well-known character while bravely sporting a very large wig!

Other roles were equally well played some again by less experienced performers, all were convincing in their characters – suitably duplicitous when necessary – and it was good to see youngsters given the opportunity to play older parts.

The role of Mitzi the Eastern European cook caught the attention of the audience straight away, her histrionics were hilarious, and she handled all the scene changes magnificently.

Inspector Craddock was focused, efficient and meticulous in his investigation with a slight but attractive hint of a Welsh accent in his delivery. He was well supported by another experienced member of the team playing the Sergeant, who also doubled up in the dark as the murder victim.

Central to the action and playing very much the long game in the hope of inheriting the late financier Randall Goedler’s millions, being next in line after his wife who is near to death, was the lady of the house Letitia Blacklock – but is really she who she appears to be? Lettie or Lottie that is the question! 

Of course, poor Bunny knew all along and gave an excellent performance, at times with girlish glee, until her sad demise, clearly showing her distress and confusion with the proceedings.

The role of Letitia was skilfully played by another experienced performer who was very much in command of the situation throughout until her unmasking at the end – an excellent performance.

The set costumes and props were just right for the period with extra little touches like the antimacassars, the photo album and an impressive pearl choker necklace.

On occasion the music was cut off a little too abruptly during the scene changes, but Mitzi carried on regardless moving trolleys, straightening cushions and the like. A few times Miss Marple was masked when seated centre stage from the right-hand side of the auditorium, and perhaps the side table with the candlestick was a tad too far from the door.

Small points in what was an intriguing and entertaining evening, with murder, mystery and mayhem keeping the audience on the edge of their seats, but also plenty of humour giving some light relief!

A very warm, sympathetically directed and well received production -well done!

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.