Prescription for Murder

A detective thriller was on the bill for my latest visit to the Norbury, as the Players took on Norman Robbins’ Prescription for Murder.  Think ‘Midsomer Murders’ on stage and you won’t go far wrong - in fact the theme tune to that show ushered in the play, leaving us in no doubt as to what was to come.  And the show delivered all of the requisite twists and turns, as we tried to work out just what was going on in the seemingly sleepy environs of Bere Knighton.  I am generally hopeless at working out whodunit, and true to form my interval prediction proved to be completely wrong! 

The play is set in the home of Dr Richard Forth and his second wife Barbara, who is suffering bouts of illness.  It’s not long before Eric Dawson, a stranger, turns up on their doorstep, claiming to have known Richard’s second fiancé, whom Richard claims does not exist.  But a note in a book sparks Barbara’s curiosity, and it’s not long before the evidence that Richard may be a murderer begins to mount, leading to concerns for Barbara’s safety... 

Prescription for Murder is a fun play and in the Players’ hands it made for a most diverting way to spend a couple of hours.  Their confident, word-perfect performance really drew us in to the tale. Robbins has a background in comedy, and at times it seemed as if he was aiming at a spoof of a murder mystery, with the twists clearly signposted to elicit oohs and aahs from the audience as they were revealed.  But that’s part of the fun of this sort of show, mixing predictability with plenty of twists and turns to keep the audience on their toes.

Vicky Moloney was an assured and well-acted presence as Barbara, the character around whom much of the play revolves.  Her husband Richard was given an impatient edge by Carl Paskin, appropriately enough for a Doctor who seemed to be permanently called out to one crisis or another.  And Marie Dunnion, making her debut at the Norbury, was suitably suspicious as Richard’s old flame Julia, a glamorous man-eater who, in a very entertaining scene, delivered a very suspect package of cakes.

Zena Schtyk and David Goode delivered a scene-stealing pair of turns as Mary and Allan Haigh.  This pair provided plenty of comic relief, showing great timing as the classic put-upon husband and his overly chatty wife with a distinct lack of self-awareness!  Completing the cast were Gemma Matthews as Dorothy Livingstone, who almost but not quite meets a sticky end, and Miles Nicholls as Eric Dawson – initially a bemused bystander, but of course it’s not that simple!

The play was capably directed by Jenni Sinclair, in particular as it neared its conclusion, building the tension nicely as the plot unfurled.  The play was acted relatively straight, which served to temper the more exaggerated elements of the script, and the pace was kept up very well. 

The action took place in a very nice box set, suitably furnished and with a convincing outdoor backdrop visible through the French doors.  I did wonder if there might have been a few more books on the bookcase, though – those that were present certainly got a thorough dusting!  Costumes were well chosen and thoroughly appropriate.  Technical elements were also well delivered, with sound and lighting efficiently delivered.  Well done to the cast for keeping up the volume during the offstage phone calls, too!

Congratulations to the entire cast and crew on a thoroughly entertaining show.  I came expecting a fun murder mystery with perhaps some hints of humour, and that is exactly what I got.  Mission accomplished then, and it was clear that the appreciative audience enjoyed it as much as I did!  Thanks for inviting me, and I look forward to seeing you all again soon.

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