Hotel Mystere

Hotel Mystere is a murder mystery with a difference. It is written with a large amount of comedy in it. It was a real treat to see these two genres of drama entwined into a very enjoyable and polished performance.

The hotel personnel consisted of the staid manager, David Richmond (Mark Pattenden), very helpful barman Tony (Chris Harris), the lazy porter Sean (Colin Bolton), the dim-witted barmaid Tanya (Cat McLelland) and the extremely clumsy waitress Lucy (Sarah Elizabeth). All performed and held their characters convincingly throughout the whole evening.

There were three guests involved - Avril Carstairs (Helen Chewter), about whom we find out little until towards the end of the plot. It turns out that she is from the Inland Revenue but I was concerned to discover that she used a gun in her pursuit of a tax-dodger. I trust this is not standard civil service issue! Guest number two was Boris Barushnikov (Gary Krost) who ably characterised  a Russian gangster boss.

There was one other guest who we never saw and he was the subject of the “whodunnit” - but in the end it transpired that “nobodydunnit”. Confused! It was not confusing at all - a very clever ending.

The set was a bar in the hotel. I was impressed with the effect of the long corridor leading from that bar. The hall has quite a small stage and it gave a enhanced feeling of depth and size. The technical side was mainly lights and a ringing telephone but well executed.

Congratulations to directors, actors and crew.

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