Sugar and Vice

From the Lazy Bee library nine actors led us up the garden path and I’m afraid with all the confectionery clues, we on our table of sleuths didn’t arrive at the correct conclusion but had an entertaining evening trying. 

Set in 1888, whilst a spate of murders are taking place in the Whitechapel area of London, the premises of confectioner Rolo Davenport is where the dastardly deed of drowning the cook Mrs Baggins in a vat of a new sugary concoction that is to make him rich takes place. Director Alison, as Narrator, set the scene from the stage. Also on stage was set the sound and lighting desk.  Nine characters are introduced working from three entrances, with action in the centre of the hall, with just a potted plant and coat stand set. The Inspector running the investigation is performed by Gary Robinson, dapper with bowler hat and notebook to the ready – a big part convincingly played and very solid in his script. Rolo is an ambitious man played by Tony Withersby who wishes to marry off his spendthrift daughter Delphinia to Lord St John Snearing  aristocratically played out by Mac Mercer in top hat, cape and cane, who we discover is a gambler on the gee gees and much in debt. She has agreed to accept Willie Macintosh,  the delivery boy’s proposal of marriage who promises that he will ‘go far’ much to her father’s disapproval. Some very amusing dialogue between these two and what a wonderful straight face Christ Stevens kept together with his sustained Northern accent (think the wonderful old Hovis ad). The matriarch of the piece and most surprisingly the murderer was Great Aunt Edna a unsuspecting elderly lady with a perfect white bun dressed in black using a walking stick and who consumed buckets of sherry and played the casino in Monte! Lovely character part for Sue Johnson who had us fooled.  Other members of the household were her upright, paid companion Miss Treadwell who ventured out at night and had a penchant for using a riding crop,  portrayed by Vanessa Perrin who really deceived us too. Frobisher the butler, smart in tails, was played by the unsuspecting Margie Stevens, who also took to nightly jaunts and although it’s usually the butler who’s the suspect on this occasion wasn’t - however his name was Jack and the Inspector had to continue his investigations in Whitechapel! Was he the Ripper? As an aside a lovely part for a young reporter with an inquisitive mind appeared throughout was confidently acted out by Kit Olsen. A good concentration piece interlaced with good comedy lines and a smatter of Gilbert and Sullivan patter songs.

Tables were set around the action and as an additional activity there was a quiz where throughout the performance many varieties of sweets and confectioners were mentioned so we listened intently and our table achieved the highest score and won chocolates. Great fun a pity we were not quite so hot in determining clues and motives!

Between the proceedings were supper intervals when the audience enjoyed a hot pastry chicken dish served by the members followed by a choice of naughty, but delicious gateau, coffee or tea.  This was a well-supported and enjoyable interaction entertainment, well played out with good period costumes aided by the technical team, bar staff, caterer, helpers, and F of H.

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