Murder in Play

When the curtain opens on such coarse acting you wonder are we in for a disaster, which does not normally happen at Lyndhurst.  But you then realise it is part of a play within a play and to be corrected by the director Boris Smolensky portrayed effetely by Richard Barnett.

A very good set – the interior of a house with all the normal items, plus an over large wardrobe, with the everlasting door problem, and French windows to be fixed.  The Stage Manager Pat, played by Hannah Marks appears with all the tools imaginable to fix them.

Spending a lot of his time in the wardrobe is Harrison Bracewell, complete with dodgy wig, dying on cue with a lovely red patch and knife stuck to it, enlarging each time he died.  This role was most ably played by Neville Green.

Getting a lot of laughs is an ex-soldier with a shell shock problem, Tim Fermor played by Shawn Condra, every time there is a bang he contorted his face and eyes to perfection.  He thought he had a girlfriend Ginette Vincent (Emma Davis) but she had her eyes on the director.

Hilary Causey, playing the lady of the house Renee Savage dominated at all times, and died beautifully in character.  Christa d’Amato, the housekeeper, was played by Di Buck who aged most effectively on instruction with a laugh from the audience.  The maid Sophia Lawton, or should we call her the lady in waiting (Donna West), was ready to take over on cue.

The plot relies on a glass decanter which is filled and filled again only to be smashed onto the floor by a gunshot.  The essential prop was made in sugar by Ron Davis very effectively.

A very funny production enjoyed by the audience listening to the comments as I left.

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