The Games Afoot

The Game’s Afoot is a play based on the historic figure William Gillette, a celebrated American actor who became synonymous with Sherlock Holmes. Director Lee Blake brought the play bang up to date setting the play in London and creatively designed the set in seepier which looked outstanding and very authentic, Lee also had all the cast wearing white face make up to create the feeling of the old black and white films this set the tone of the play and give it its originality.

John Bourner performed the part of William Gillette, a renowned successful actor who invites his fellow actors to his new home with the intension of finding out who tried to murder him. John delivered a stand out, confident, and believable performance and I loved how he moved between his character into the role of Sherlock Holmes bring out the comedy in his performance, great execution of his role. Julie Hobson is no stranger to the stage for Nunthorpe Players playing the role of Martha Gilette, William’s ageing mother. What a performance, Julie’s delivery had me in stiches with her comic one liner’s and her stand out performance, Well done Julie.

Playing the role of Daria Chase was Kayleigh Thompson the much-reviled theatre critic, Kayleigh spared no punches when she came to analysing and critiquing the characters, not surprising she ended up with a knife in her back, a great performance and a joy to watch, confident stage presence, clear diction and full credit must be given to Kayleigh for allowing herself to be thrown around as the cast tried to hide her body.

I loved the characters Felix and Madge Geisel, played by Neil Mapplebeck and Karen Kerr. Felix is the lifelong friend of William who also had an affair with Daria much is his wife’s annoyance both actors delivered an impressive performance, their characters certainly moved the play along with their infectious comic sharp witty dialogue. Well done to Neil and Karen for a superb performance.

Newlyweds Iain Kilcar and Eve Smith delivered an exceptional performance as Simon Bright and Aggie Wheeler and certainly brought a twist to the story line. Aggie had inherited a fortune from her late husband who died in a skiing accident during their honeymoon, and just by coincidence Simon was there to comfort Eve in her hour of need. Great comic timing and staging by these actors who were both confident and accomplished in the performances and added to the mystery of the play and finally, Sean Iley who arrived in the second act at the house as Inspector Coring to solve the murders, great interaction with William as they compete over the control of the investigation. Great acting by Sean as he worked through the evidence and identified the culprit.

This was an excellent play as we come to expect from Nunthorpe Players, it was  obvious from the delivery that the entire cast enjoyed themselves enormously and had taken great joy in entertaining their audience, they maintained their characters well throughout the play and delivered good performances by this small and confident cast well done and thank you all for your kind hospitality.    

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