Murder in Play

Murder in Play by Simon Brett is a “play-within-a-play” and is a whodunnit centered on an inept repertory company staging “Murder at Priorswell Manor”. The leading actress, the Director’s wife, is murdered on stage, an arrest is made but some of the cast, unhappy with this outcome, try to solve the crime during rehearsals for the revamped “Murder in Play”.

There is no stage at the centre just a small performance area with tiered seating. The set comprised several painted flats allowing for two exits at either side of a middle flat on which was painted a fireplace and over it was a painting of a shield with crossed swords on it, which later proved to be a hidden cupboard. French doors were to one side and on the other side was a large cupboard. The set was adorned with a chaise longue, two Windsor chairs, with a small table between them, a bureau and a drinks trolley. A clock, a barometer and pictures were on the walls, everything very much depicting the interior of a manor house.

The Director of ‘Murder at Priorswell Manor’, Boris Smolensky, was  brilliantly portrayed by Terry Stevenson. He totally captured the pomposity, the overbearing egotistic traits of the character superbly as he blusteringly demands attention and adherence to his directions. He also portrays the other side of the character, that of a womanising philanderer, a seeker of fame and sympathy with such eagerness, over application and chronic self-pity. It was a terrific performance. Lady Dorothy Cholmondley (Renee Savage) was perfectly played by Jane Robertson. She was so aristocratic with great poise, totally believing that her husband (Boris) will return to her as he always does but, slip away the ‘mask’ and the bitchiness and sarcastic comments towards Christa D’Amato (Mrs Puttock) were just sublime and, she also has a ‘hold’ over her. Gwen Murray excelled as Mrs Puttock, the housekeeper in the play. She was perfectly subservient and droll towards Lady Cholmondley but when told, by Boris, that she needed to be older, at the next rehearsal she literally staggers on, it was just so funny. Again, putting the ‘acting’ aside she definitely held own against Renee and the banter between them, as they try to put each other down, was super however, Renee seemed to have the upper hand as she discloses something about her past. In the ‘Murder in Play’ she was perfect as Renee and so pleased when her ‘dark secret’ was given to her concealed in the pages of a Playboy magazine. Joanna Raisin was delightful as the star struck Ginette Vincent (Lady Virginia Cholmondley). Her ‘acting skills’ are so amusingly below par but she is so smitten with Boris that she naively believes that he is going to take her to New York with him. Tim Fermor (Major Rodney Purbright) was ideally portrayed by Mik Horvath. Ex army, suffering from shell shock, he constantly questions the directions given by Boris and further aggravates him by continually quoting Equity rules, particularly about break times. Boris insists that he needs to speak in a higher voice level and this resulted in an hilarious delivery from Mik.  As Tim, he gets involved with Sophie Lawton as they try to unravel the sequence of events surrounding the death of Renee. Nick Mothershaw excelled as Harrison Bracewell (Mr. Papadopoulos). As a past Shakespearean actor he loves to tell of his experiences but constantly riles Boris by not knowing his lines and the fact that although he states he is a reformed alcoholic there are, apart from his ‘drunken demeanour’, many instances of his secret stashes of booze. As Papadopoulus, in a very outlandish wig, he brings out the comedic aspects superbly from his ‘dying’ and his most fiendish and evil laugh, requested by Boris. There are some quite comical episodes concerning the cupboard none more so when at the end, he is actually locked in it when everyone has presumably gone home. Abigail Evans as Sophie Lawton (Triggs) feels undermined as an actress mostly because she is usually cast, as in this case, a maid. However in ‘Murder in Play’ she is elevated to the role of Lady Virginia Chalmondley (the original actress now in custody). Abigail gave a very effective and impressive portrayal as Sophie. She is convinced that Ginette is innocent of the killing of Renee and along with Tim they slowly and methodically go through all the contributing facts ending with, I must say, a most surprising outcome, as they solve the mystery. Not a cast member in ‘Murder at Priorswell Manor, but as Pat, the Stage Manager, Megan Russell is just perfect. She busies herself sorting out props and painting scenery and is relentlessly at the beck and call of Boris and other cast members although she does dismiss some unwarranted demands and occasionally answers back. She if frequently called upon to ‘fix’ the cupboard and the gun that doesn’t actual fire when needed to, but finds herself in an acting role in the new version the play, where it is so obviously apparent that she has no acting skills whatsoever. 

There were some extremely amusing scenes, the actors delivering the comedy sublimely and on top of that they had to play a role as an ‘actor’ in a play and then as themselves playing the role of the ‘actor’ which in itself, is most confusing but, it was achieved so brilliantly. The super set, design and construction by Nick Mothershaw, the excellent lighting and sound, design and operation by Josh Hall along with sound operation from Maisie Wiggin, the stunning costumes by Shena Lawrence and Patricia Church, the Props were provided by the cast and crew and the terrific choice of ‘incidental music’ all came together with a most talented and superb cast to make this a most entertaining, impressive and top-notch production.

Many congratulations to Directors Patricia Church & Louisa Jenkins, to Production Manager Mik Horvath, Production Team Nikky Rowe, to all the backstage crew, to the BSL Sign Interpreter, to everyone else involved in any way and especially to the wonderful and talented cast. The group Patriciaare celebrating their 90th. Anniversary this year, what an outstanding achievement that is, and there were books on display chartering their past history. My sincere thanks must go to the Front of House Team for, as always, their very warm welcome and to all members of the group for the lovely card that I received.

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