The Hollow

A first for Thetford Players with  a full length play, postponed from 2019 like so many productions, a change of Director and several cast changes, but a good evening of Agatha Christie for the enjoyment of a good-sized audience.

A good-looking set to give the right atmosphere, a garden room in an elegant house. Costumes good period for this play. A weekend party for family and friends. And a strong cast trying something different from pantomime, under the direction of Caroline Foot.

Very strong casting and performances from the hosts Sir Henry and Lady Lucy Angkatell, excellent character studies and personalities, diction ideal and clear, David Williams and Lynne Jeffries were just right throughout this murder mystery as they dictated the style.

Among family guests cousin Edward from Dave Griffiths, and owner of family property Ainswich House (loved by all) and his cousin Midge (Emma Kelly ) the poor relation, in a love affair with the house (but all worked out). Also staying a glamorous and famous sculptor and lively personality Dani Dunsmore as Henrietta, who is mistress to another guest. And so the family assembled and showing their relationships in well developed characters with the history of past associations. And in serious control in first non-pantomime role, Phil Pearson as Gudgeon the butler, and how excellent he was in all situations and with gravitas carried trays and drinks in a superior manner throughout the mayhem of a murder in the house (and he did not do it). Housekeeper and Maid completed the domestic staff.

Other guests included well-known Dr John Cristow (Andrew Hamilton) and his wife Gerda (Rose Ash), regular visitors and with Gerda cowed by some of the female personalities, all set for a friendly weekend. A visit from a neighbour, an ex mistress of the doctor, actress Veronica Craye (Laura Williams) returning from films in Hollywood offered the complex extra for the murder of the doctor in a house containing wife, mistress and ex-mistress, and several pistols around the house in use for target practice, what a situation.

To try to resolve the murder we had Inspector Colquhoun C.I.D. with his questioning and accompanied by note-taking Sgt Penny (Gary Largent and Martin Godfrey) and it was all quite a tangle of suspects.

The dialogue all well delivered, the suspense and tension well maintained, and certainly I did not guess correctly who had the dirty hands, so well done.

 

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