The Game's Afoot or Holmes for the Holidays

The Game's Afoot or Holmes for the Holidays was written by Ken Lugwig. It's a great whodunit right to the end. There are lots of twists and turns along the way, with some good comedy moments thrown in. The set is very good, being the main lounge of William Gillette's home. Lots of attention to detail making the room look comfy and homely, complete with a secret door behind the bookcase. The lighting and sound are also good. The costumes are also very good and are just right for 1936.

Director Anne Ponting has a great cast for this play. They all work very well together and have the right amount of wonderful over-acting. Anne also helps with backstage during the play. The play starts in December 1936, on stage at the Empire in Leicester Square, where the actor William Gillette is in a play as Sherlock Holmes (played by Chris March) and his arch-enemy Moriarty, played by Alan Ponting, just before the former is shot. The story then moves to the actor William Gillette's mansion in Beaulieu, where he has invited the cast of the play to spend Christmas together. Chris March as William and Alan Ponting as Felix Geisel work really well together. Andrea Cutler as Madge Geisel is also good in her role, she has great facial expressions. Daniel Lyons as Simon Bright and Sophie Hills as Aggie Wheeler also work well together, Aggie has a soft spot for William. Tess Kazim plays Martha Gillette, William's mother - she is the perfect hostess for the guests, although a bit scatty. Tess is perfect in the role. William has a suprise guest in Daria Chase a theatre critic and columnist who knows everyone's secrets. Francesca Tucker brings some great comedy to the part. Daria is murdered, but by who? This is very funny with her trying to take the knife out of her back and landing across the sofa, William is horrified and covers her with a blanket, he calls the police, but quickly puts the phone down as his mother is somehow involved. He gets Felix to try and help him hide the body - the audience are laughing as they move her around the room. The police arrive at the door and William goes off stage leaving Felix to put the body behind the secret door only for it to close on him before he gets her inside. Dawn Cresswell plays Inspector Goring, she has a very dry sence of humour, and is great in the part. She is checking around the house, and they quickly get Daria's body behind the door. William takes on his Sherlock Holmes persona and helps her try to solve the case. Everyone has a reason to be a suspect, but Simon Bright and Aggie Wheeler get taken away in the end. There is a plot twist at the end.

Well done to everyone on a super evening's enterainment. 

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