Dead Guilty

Dead Guilty a play performed by Southport Dramatic Club, at Southport Little Theatre on Thursday 18th April, 2024

Dead Guilty is a tense psychological study of guilt and obsession penned by British Screenwriter and Playwright Richard Harris. The story centres around a young graphic artist called ‘Julia Darrow’ who is a passenger in a car driven by John Bennett, a work colleague and ‘perhaps even more’!  John has a heart attack at the wheel and dies!  Julia, who is recovering at home from her injuries finds herself housebound and becoming more and more depressed and when things start to go missing from her home, she becomes even more troubled!  A kindly counsellor called ‘Anne’, tries to help Julia deal with her increasing depression and her suicidal thoughts and tendencies, whilst an ‘overly friendly’ neighbour / handyman ‘Gary’ also tries to help by doing odd jobs around the house and running errands for her… but what are his intentions?  She then arranges to meet ‘Margaret’, the excessively attentive widow of John, who slowly begins to manipulate Julia's life!  But Julia is living with a ‘deep secret’ that she thinks only she knows … but as things start to go from bad to worse, the suspense builds, there are many questions to be answered and many twists and turns to navigate, who can she trust and where will it all end!

Production Team… the task of navigating us through the many twists and turns of this production were handed to Co-Directors … Tracey Batchelor and Paul-James Green. Tracey and Paul-James had chosen a strong quartet who, from the ‘off’, looked confident, well-rehearsed and created four good characters. Having read their programme notes… I can only imagine the challenges they faced bringing this play to stage with all those twists and turns, plus the plethora of small scenes, all being ‘played out’ in the same setting.  Blackouts were used to complete those changes, which mainly denoted the passage of time and although they did break up the flow slightly, which had nothing to do with cast or crew and which I’m not sure could have been avoided… but when those lights came up, the pace of the dialogue, re-established quickly the flow and enjoyment of this play … be proud you two, good job!  

The Cast… I’ve said on many occasions, that when you have a small cast, it really is imperative to the success of the production, that the cast are all able to work together and this was evident from the start and throughout!  As is the ‘norm’ in my reviews… this is where I ‘stick my neck out’ and start identifying MY ‘showstealer’ and favourite character(s)!   It’s never as easy with a small cast especially when you can see that everyone on stage is giving their all and that’s all you can ask really!  I think I’m justified in suggesting that this play contained… ‘Two leading’ and ‘two supporting’ roles… all four of whom created believable characters that they should be proud of!   But, on this occasion, I am going to ‘stick my neck out’ and select a ‘showstealer’, that decision was prompted by more or less the last fifteen minutes of this play, when I finally plumped for Sam Roberts portrayal of the attentive, grieving, scheming widow ‘Margaret Haddrell’.  Sam created this totally believable character …  every twist, every turn she made was believable … by the time the show climaxed, I really did ‘loathe’ her character.  Sam had great stage presence and provided us with this wonderful characterisation … be proud Sam, great job!  Following closely on Sam’s heels we had Erin Barton and her take on the role of ‘Julia Darrow’, the young graphic designer, car crash victim and house bound invalid. Again, another totally believable character created… who was hardly ever off stage!  Erin took this role and made it her own!  Never out of character, never without the limp (which isn’t easy) … mannerisms, facial expressions, great job Erin… be proud!  Our two supporting roles were played by Sabrina Haynes and Phil Pover playing ‘Anne’ and ‘Gary’ respectively.  Both Sabrina and Gary are blessed with good stage presence, they created two more believable characters!  Their rolls were such, that they did ‘flit in and out’ of this play, but whenever on stage the chemistry between whoever they were playing with or alongside was well judged and believable. Be proud of what you helped achieve.   We had one other name within the programme … ‘The Voice of the Coroner’ … a non-visual role played by Andrea Calver.

Staging/Tech …  as always here at the Little Theatre, the set was ‘made to measure’, the ‘Tech’ first class, providing everything needed for the actors to do their ‘thing’ well.  Loved the staging of the opening scene… which was well produced and delivered; also loved the ‘tick tock’ sound played throughout and the ‘visible hand and arm’ coming down the staircase’… all adding to and enhancing to the tension throughout!  Dave Cox and Philip Hutchinson (Stage Managers), Alan Gosling (Set Design), Bob Jessamine (Scenic Artist), the SDC Construction Team; Radley Haynes and the SDC Stage Crew, Brian Price (Lighting) and Phyllis Spencer, Karen Nightingall (Sound) should all be proud of what they helped achieve and provide.

Wardrobe… was first rate, apt and enhanced the production… looked after and provided by Sam Fulstow and the SDC Wardrobe Team

Props… first class props, used well and again enhanced the production… overseeing … Paul-James Green, Jamie Boland, Abbie Strefford and Katie Allen

Another great play staged here at Southport… if the applause at the end of the play, during the bows and the comments I overheard as I left were anything to go by, a play appreciated by all those present!

Thank you so much for inviting my wife and I…. thoroughly enjoyed our evening, hope to see you all again soon!

Stay safe, keep well…
‘Stronger Together’

Jim Briscoe
NODA NW
District 6 Rep

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