Prescription for Murder

The Front of House team, headed by Alan Fryar, were friendly and efficient. As we took our seats a sound track accompanied the opening of the house tabs to reveal a box set that was well constructed and decorated with a wonderful window centre back revealing a delightful view of a garden path with trees lining it. The furniture was comfortable, modern and appropriate for the middle class family it was supposed to represent. The costumes by Rosemary Greig were well considered and on the whole looked right, as did hair and makeup. The lighting by Greg Mount and Keith Daly was well designed and operated, Keith also being very busy on sound effects whilst Val Daly on props and Peter Saunders, Stage Manager, made sure that the show rolled along smoothly. Yvonne Baker’s direction was thoughtful with just the right amount of tension and angst to keep you guessing. Right until the last few minutes we knew we were watching a murder thriller but couldn’t work out the guilty party.

The play opened with Pat Attree (Dorothy, the maid) spring cleaning when Sarah Johnson (Barbara Forth, the owner of the house) entered looking far from well.  It soon became apparent that she might have been being slowly poisoned, probably by her husband Dr Richard Forth played outstandingly by Dennis Harrison.  He was a thoroughly bad tempered man who expected to rule the household with a rod of iron and his poor young wife was weak and unable to stand up for herself. During the course of the afternoon a delightful couple, Mary and Alan Haigh dropped in on a visit. Elizabeth Toon, Mary, was great, doing all the talking for them both and cutting her poor husband down to size at every opportunity. Clive Greig, Alan, timed his grunts and half sentences to perfection. They provided the light relief and comedy into an otherwise rather serious production. Next we met Julia Moore, played by Kathryn Routledge, a neighbour who definitely had designs on the Doctor.  She came over as everything the wife was not!! Brilliantly costumed and groomed.  Could she be intent on murder? Last but not least we had Harry Rippon as Eric Dawson, an odd guy who seemed to be looking for his missing ex-fiancé. He kept reappearing having suffered from inexplicable accidents. All the cast were convincing in their various parts.

This Norman Robbins script was cleverly directed and well performed. He is famous for his Tomb Series of very funny plays and a great many pantomimes.  He sadly died last year but I understand there are many scripts which may still go into print.

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