Go Back For Murder

The Norbury Players have developed something of a tradition over recent years with an annual cosy murder mystery, often directed, as on this occasion, by Jenni Sinclair.  This year’s offering, ideally timed for the darker nights at the coming of Autumn, was a lesser known work by the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie, as we were invited to Go Back For Murder.  This play dates to 1960, but it has its genesis in an earlier, 1942 Hercule Poirot novel Five Little Pigs, although the great detective was excised from this version. 

Go Back For Murder has an unusual, time-travelling structure, with its first half seeing Carla Crayle investigating the death of her father Amyas (for which her mother Caroline was convicted) by interviewing a variety of witnesses, whilst the second half flashed back sixteen years to the scene of the crime itself, and we saw that the recollections of those present were not necessarily to be trusted. 

The play got off to a breezy start as Carla, played with conviction by Emily Collins, visited lawyer Justin Fogg (Miles Nicholls), who was present at her mother’s trial as a younger man and apparently developed something of a crush on her (soon to be echoed in his feelings for her daughter).  There was a nice turn in this scene from Hugh Raymer as Fogg’s faithful retainer Turnball, and also an energetic appearance from James Dean as Jeff Rogers, Clara's brash American boyfriend, complete with impressive ten-gallon hat! 

Having received a rather cryptic note from her recently deceased mother, Carla set out her plan to question the witnesses to her father’s murder – hard headed stockbroker Philip Blake (Colin Potter); his gentle, amateur chemist brother Meredith Blake (Adrian Over); Caroline’s rather defensive half-sister Angela Warren (Gemma Matthews), her apparently sweet natured Governess Miss Williams (Mary Field), and Amyas’ painting model Elsa Greer (Sophie Davey-Over), full of snooty superiority and now regaling in the title of Lady Melksham. 

These meetings were carried out in a variety of locations, well depicted on a split stage with particularly good use of different furniture to denote location.  As is often the case with Christie, Go Back for Murder features a fairly wordy script, and this was particularly evident in the first half which was primarily made up of a series of dialogues between Carla and the various witnesses.  But the characters were well drawn by the actors, drip-feeding information to the audience and neatly setting up the revelations to come.    

The pace increased a notch or two in the second half, as Carla and Justin brought the witnesses back to the scene of the crime, leading to a lengthy flashback as we saw the characters’ younger versions (with Emily doing double duty as Caroline Crayle) playing out the events leading up to the crime.  It was interesting to see where their first half recollections proved to be inaccurate, as Carla came to question everything she thought she knew.  Also present, of course, was the unfortunate Amyas Crayle (Alex Stallard), a rather vain, self-obsessed individual who had nevertheless charmed his young model Elsa into bed.

The murder itself hinged around a poisoned glass of beer, with each of the suspects having been in a position to do the deed.  Given its pivotal importance, it was a bit of a shame that there was hardly any beer in the glass for Amyas to drink, and perhaps the beer bottles themselves could have had their modern labels removed.

The solution felt somewhat plucked from thin air – even for Christie – as Justin highlighted a crucial inconsistency to reveal the killer to a shocked gathering (how did he know?), but the resolution was convincingly delivered by the cast.  As always, I was completely wrong as to the identity of the killer, but the guessing game is all part of the fun!

I enjoy these annual trips back to the golden age of crime at the Norbury, and Go Back for Murder absolutely maintained the standard of their previous efforts.  I look forward to seeing what mysteries they may have in store for next year! 

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