Lies, Spies and Somebody Dies

It was great to be back at this lovely venue where a warm welcome is always received, for a very entertaining evening combining a collection murder mystery and espionage related plays and monologues. It was also a pleasure to chat with Laurence Barnett, and finally present the NODA Best Drama Award for the 2024 production that he directed of “Beyond a Joke”. With the cast performing various roles and characters in each of the segments, they all transformed from one character to another with aplomb, and some very strong performances. Set and lighting were simple but effective, along with good costumes and props.

The first was a one act play called “Fate’s Thread”, written by Stephen Bean, focusing on a new “Ghost”, Susan, (played by Sharon Scott), who meets two resident ghosts Alice and Harriet (Liz Taylor and Joan Hocking) in a graveyard, who were the victims of being murdered in the 17th and 19th centuries. This was a very entertaining play, as the ghosts returned to the scene of where Susan’s ultimate murder was plotted by her cheating husband Jack (Matt Warren). Margaret (Maris McCann) and DC Bayes (Fred Nash) completed the cast. Very strong performances from all, especially Matt’s breakdown and confession.

After a short break Maris McCann delivered an entertaining monologue about how you are chosen as a Spy, which led perfectly to the first of 2 very funny stories written by former Old Buckenham member Richard Crawley. Called “007 at Seventy Gets into a Pickle”, it is set in the retirement home of secret agents and 007 himself. This was a very funny short comedy, with Fred Nash as 007, Sharon Scott as Miss Moneypenny, Liz Taylor as Sally, and Matt Warren as The Gentleman, (aka a Bond Villain), who has come to the home in an attempt to murder Bond, whose own ultimate demise was comically very well delivered by Matt.

Isla Butcher followed up with another very well delivered monologue entitled “The Choice”, leading to the final, short play written by Richard Crawley, entitled “The Unreliable History of Jack the Ripper”. The entire cast from were joined by Malcolm Robertshaw as deadpan The Narrator, Benjie Elston as a hilarious Jack the Ripper and Adrian Kidd as The Detective, to round off a very enjoyable evening. 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.