Murder With Ghosts

This cleverly constructed whodunnit by Simon Brett gives more than a nod to Agatha Christie and, I felt, the TV series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). Lady Cholmondley, an unlikeable dragon, has been told by a medium that she is going to be murdered, so she invites an amateur sleuth, Peregrine Villiers, to a house party of friends and relatives, to find the murderer and protect her. It turns out that he is the first to be killed and her so called friends, relatives and staff all want her dead. One by one they bump each other off, including her dog, and end up as ghosts watching the action, powerless to prevent further murders, with only Lady Cholmondley surviving to the end.

The first thing to greet us was a tremendous set featuring Lady C’s drawing room and a bit of the garden. Top marks to designer Vonne Clephan and the construction team for such an impressive box set, which was well furnished and dressed, appropriate to the 1940s’ era of the play. Lighting too (Charlie Holland) was very effective with clever changes of state whenever the ghosts made an appearance. Good sound effects too (Jeremy Clephan) which were timed just right. Well thought-out costumes (Brenda Austin) completed the colourful picture. I also enjoyed the choice of incidental music – all very much of the post war period.

Emilie Morgan, in her first foray into directing, has chosen a strong and experienced cast to make this production a success. Karen Garside made Lady Connie, a pivotal role, nicely snooty and superior, looking down her nose at the servants and anyone considered to be ‘trade’. Roger Minors gave detective Perry a cheerful and positive attitude, desperately hoping Selina would return his love. They both had reams of dialogue to get through to set the story in motion, and all credit to them for making it interesting and keeping our attention. Liam Gray and Molly Dyer were well suited to the roles of Lady Connie’s nephew and niece. Liam portrayed Greville perfectly, a slimy, grasping cheat with a very thin veneer of respectability, while Molly was spot-on as the rather dim Selina, saving herself for the right man and being rather disappointed with reality.

Nicky Cresswell was wonderful as Signora Frapelli, maintaining her Italian (and later French) accent very authentically, making her a delightfully eccentric medium. Roy Phillips, another master of accents, made Wildenstein/Cruickshank very believable too – supposedly an international assassin, but not very good at hitting the right target! Mike Rich had just the right demeanour for Jespard the butler – he was believably world-weary and grasping. The maid Bagshot is a gem of a part which Emily Sandoval made the most of with great characterisation and expression. Of course, we mustn’t forget Kitchener – so well voiced by Ria Wilson!

The many scene changes in each act were carried out most efficiently by the stage crew, under SM Jeremy Clephan.

Murder With Ghosts gives an interesting new slant to the reliable genre of the whodunnit murder mystery. Although the man behind the killings was revealed early in Act 2, it was still fascinating trying to work out who was going to survive the carnage, making it a great evening’s entertainment. Bravo!

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