Sugar and Vice

Sugar and Vice by Patricia Gay is a murderous Victorian melodrama set in 1888 in the London home of confectionary manufacturer, Mr Rolo Davenport. The body of Mrs Enid Baggins (the cook) has been found, drowned in a vat of boiling sweet mixture. She took with her the secret recipe of the sweet mixture on which Davenport made his fortune. There then followed an evening of hilarity as each of the family members, companions, sweethearts and household staff, came under the inquisitive eye of Inspector Pratt as he tried to establish the identity of the dastardly murderer….or, as it transpired, murderess!

The set was minimal but imaginative use was made of props.

A great deal of trouble had gone into ensuring each character’s costume was in keeping with the period, with some gorgeous Victorian gowns and accessories. 

The lighting was effective and well controlled.   

The essential characterisations of each cast member was well developed and each character maintained their persona throughout. In the first act the narrator introduces us to the characters and we learn that the cook has been murdered. As the scenes progressed, in between scene breaks, when the various courses were served, we learnt who all the suspects were, what their alibis might have been and also their motives. This was done via interviews with the suspects and the local, lady reporter.  The audience were invited to take part in a quiz – counting and noting the confectionary based mentions – and this provided many comic moments and added to the enjoyment of the evening.

Thanks to the talented and hard-working team, led by Directors Bernard Stone  (Inspector Pratt) and Helen Price (the Narrator)  the audience enjoyed an evening of surprises, a lot of laughs and some gorgeous food! 

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