Anagram of Murder

Augustus (Gus) Nation (Ian Dobson) is carefully planning his strategy for the evening’s bridge party whilst his wife Veronica (Ronnie) (Alethea Estill) shows no interest whatsoever, being more interested in seeing how fast she can empty the gin bottle. Something is afoot. Why does she encourage him to go early to his bridge evening? Where is the rapport between this couple? All is not well and can Veronica be planning some devilment concerning her husband. These two parts are the main protagonists in this play and were extremely well presented by this talented duo with good characterisations and excellent command of the stage.

So Gus, who is a novelist specialising in crime writing departs after appearing to amend his plot in the current novel by asking his wife should he change everything following her innocent suggestions. Is there a sinister motive. By now the audience are beginning to wonder.

The phone rings. Who is Harry? His name is not on the cast list. Secret lover, possible accomplice. The tension is mounting but is abruptly broken by the entrance of Sally Dure (Ruby Clarke) a vibrant yet totally eccentric blonde who is Gus’s secretary. She wants his latest script for typing up and id allowed access to the desk drawers in order to retrieve the relevant documents. This interruption has an obvious effect on Ronnie. She is expecting a visitor.

Enter Jeffrey dressed identically to Gus in evening wear, black tie etc. He, it appears is the somewhat reluctant killer to be and whilst being coached in his role his nervousness is shown by the fact that he requires copious amounts of whisky to prepare him for the grisly task ahead, namely organising the demise of Gus. Paul Burnett in this role shows good command of emotion moving from complete bravado for the forthcoming event and abject misery at the horror of what he really has to do. He does however pluck up courage to inform Ronnie that he has had her name tattooed on the inside of his left forearm.

The plot now changes for, unexpectedly Gus comes home early, Jeffrey, hiding behind the door knocks him out using a bronze statuette and after much dithering the body is driven away to be disposed of by dumping it in the sea via the local cliffs.

Ronnie phones the mysterious Harry wanting help. She goes out of the study and we see a figure complete with outdoor coat and hat pulled well down for disguise enter, take a quick look round and exit via the French windows into the garden. Who is this stranger?

The following afternoon the police arrive, DI and a female constable, and it transpires that Detective Inspector Morgan is none other than Harry, the lover of Ronnie. He informs her that a body has been found on the beach but cannot be identified as the storm of the previous evening had pounded the body against the rocks and therefore it could not be identified apart from a tattoo on the left forearm. So Jeffrey is dead, but what has happened to Gus. Harry (Pete Mesley) and WPC Hughes (Helena Graham) were very professional in their approach to their roles as police officers a showing calm and confident manner with the WPC asking the most pertinent questions.

Gus enters having recorded all the conversation and the end result is that after phoning for assistance the WPC has the dubious pleasure in arresting both her boss and Ronnie.

Sally re-enters after this and when all is revealed to her she explains to Gus that as her father is Mr Dure this must be the anagram for murder!

The play was very well directed by Alison Steele who showed a good understanding of the script and had obviously drilled her cast accordingly. Well done Alison.

The set was well constructed and gave scope for movement to all parts of the stage, whilst the lighting, which was excellent in giving flashes of light from approaching cars and the blues of the police car, was a little disappointing in that the main set could have done with more light especially when only the desk lamp was lit as cast were appearing almost in silhouette.

However, this apart the society did justice to the play and gave an excellent evening’s entertainment.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.