Deadly Nightcap

First impression in auditorium was the well constructed box set, well furnished and with plenty of dressings and properties to make it a very liveable room, and to give the right impression of the lounge of style in the Radford house.
 Director Christina Attridge kept a tight grip on the action, good pace and excellent tension from the actors, well cast and realised characters in this Francis Durbridge thriller with the many complex and unexpected twists in the tale: one had to concentrate to keep up with the plot.
 Strong performance from Martin Peckitt as Jack Radford, business man with a slick manner but devious money side hidden, not truthful about his dealings, two-timing his wife, murdering his brother-in-law, seemingly a pleasant man of business, really what was there to like in his plotting to gain everything?
 As his wife, Sarah, Sandra Cartwright had the major role and was the lynchpin of this drama, mood swings and character changes of weakness with major health issues (could be real or imagined) to business-like resolutions, taking control, and major actions, a strong portrayal and very good interactions and relationships with the other characters.
 Housekeeper Lucy (Lorna Hutchinson) kept the feeling well of calmly running the household and support of Sarah, nicely portrayed. The friend Kate (Teresa Sharp) played a major role in support and suspicions, always around and in the frame, a friend indeed but was she there too much, a major player in this story and the character well developed. And Anna Truman as Rachel looked the part with style and played up to both Jack in the affair and with Sarah in the aftermath,
 As Geoffrey, Paul Ketteridge captured the right feel of long-time friend/employee in support and (in undercurrent) possible forced business deal, leaving one wondering where he really stood. Jon Large as the Doctor featured well as caring and in support, a solid friend to both Radfords. And Leslie Judd as lawyer Arnold Boston gave strong security to a strange situation and interaction.
 Brendan Sheppard as Cliff (police and author) was strange mix of efficiency and smiling ‘chat-up’ friendliness, he cultivated the situations in all directions, was he really police or did his ‘proposed book’ take precedence in the thought process, a smooth and easy performance, but not sure what to make of him, except that he resolved the murders in a very different fashion.
 This was a high-class drama with feelings and tensions at a peak and yet under control, certainly an evening to appreciate and enjoy.

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