Murder in the Studio

During the golden age of radio, Agatha Christie wrote a series of radio plays, broadcast by the BBC, and Wymondham Players had recreated a studio to transport us back to those simpler times, when families would sit around a radio to receive all the news, music, drama and entertainment. With the actors speaking into microphones, the Foley Artists assisting them would add to the atmosphere with their imaginative use of simple items to create sound effects. Murder in the Studio is 3 of those radio plays, written by Christie between the 1930’s and 1950’s. The set was simple, with the Foley Artists on stage with the performers, and old fashioned microphones downstage. With a red light coming on in the studio to show that they were live, and a green to show that the recording was complete, this further enhanced the effect of a real studio feel. 

All three plays were excellently delivered, with some really good variations of characters by the large cast, who swapped roles between plays, showing the strength in depth and versatility of this long-established theatre company. Challenging their skills to go from one character to another, each were dressed in clothing, I believe, that would be reminiscent of the post second world war era, and there were strong performances throughout the cast. The 3 scripts were delivered with razor sharp precision. Keeping the audience engaged by voice and sound effects only throughout was no mean feat, but this was accomplished with some really expressive use of voice tone, accents, and inflection.

Katy Lowry as the Foley Artists Director, along with John Gray and David Paternoster, were excellent, with some lighter humorous moments as the creative use of items and the timing of the sound effects were delivered with perfect precision.

The first play up was “Personal Call”, involving a haunting call from James Brent’s deceased wife, Fay (Tabi Paternoster), from a Railway Station, with David Percival and Tracey Hobbs as James and Pamela Brent. Summing up was David Paternoster as Inspector Narracott.

Then followed “Yellow Iris”, featuring what was Hercule Poirot’s first appearance in a radio broadcast. David Atkinson’s Poirot voice was impressive, not at all overstated, and Georgette Vale displayed her versality again with a strong characterisation of Lola Valdez. Becky Davis delivered outstanding vocals in this play, her voice being contemporary of the era, and the upcoming VE Day celebrations made this all the more poignant.

Finishing off with the play “Butter in a Lordly Dish”, featuring Kevin Oelrichs as Sir Luke Endenby, the company rounded off the evening as Sir Luke met his fate at the hands of his latest flame, Julia Keene, played by Tracey Hobbs.

Thank you for a very enjoyable evening.

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