The Diamond Necklace

Review: The Diamond Necklace by The Marlowe Players

The Diamond Necklace by Juliet Bagnall is a fun and well-delivered play set in the 1950s, performed by The Marlowe Players. Directed by Suzi Illston, it tells the story of a missing necklace and missing friend, and the confusion and drama that follow. It mixes comedy and mystery in a way that keeps the audience interested and entertained throughout.

What a joy to attend the evening and to realise that it was a radio play we had the pleasure of watching. I have seen several radio plays over the years, and right from the start I was intrigued what the outcome would be. I am pleased to say that it was again a great evening of entertainment brought to us by a talented cast and company.

The cast gave great performances, especially the Maudesley’s played by Martin Illston as Charles and Sue Orme as Louise, their acting was strong and together was totally believable, moving the play through all the twists and turns we would expect with clear diction and characterisations.  George Lambton played by Mark Pardner made us question George’s motives as he is immediately under suspicion, keeping the audience on its toes throughout. Gary Peake’s portrayal of Howard Lambton, George’s Australian cousin added to the journey that George took us on, with us questioning who the villain of the piece was. Both of whom are involved with a disreputable night club owner Alfredo Borso (Mike Asprey) and his mistress Dorothy Wilkes (Wendy Beric), in turn they are under surveillance from Scotland Yard and Chief Supt Treadwell played by Ed Watkins, and Max Roberts as Inspector Croft, who both help to unravel the criminal activity involved.

Add to this a list of other great characters who also add to the storyline by filling in the missing pieces of the jigsaw, Luigi (Max Roberts), Taxi Driver, and Security guard (Mike Asprey), Betty Green (Rhianne Cutts), Virginia Fleming (Claire Wade), Madeleine Parks, WPC (Andrea White) Waitress (Wendy Beric) and Announcer, Maître D’, An American, Sergeant (Iain Maple) all with different clues slowly building to a final reveal of what actually took place. As you can see many on stage were swapped roles throughout not dissimilar to the radio plays of the forties and fifties.

Adding to the talented cast was the key area that every radio play needs, its sound effects and with onstage sounds delivered by Steve Orme, and Emma Tocker-Booth and off stage sounds by Steve Cooper, I absolutely loved how they enhanced the performance and reminded me fondly of those plays of the past. I particularly loved the audience’s joy of the champagne cork being popped. Lighting by Rob Snell was simple but effective allowing us to enjoy all the cast throughout, as with the stage management from Steve Orme.

I was fortunate to take my youngest son to watch with me, who had never seen a radio play, and this was the perfect introduction for him to watch with a great cast and super sound effects. Thank you for inviting us to a wonderful evening that we will remember with great fondness for many years to come. Congratulations  Marlowe Players on a wonderful evening.

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