The Nine Tailors

For the final production of their 50th anniversary year, Ewhurst Players chose this fascinating whodunnit, written by Dorothy L. Sayers. It was cleverly adapted for the stage by Director Simon Fraser, surely a labour of love!  Not only was it an intriguing mystery, full of zany and odd characters, depicting village life in the earlier part of the twentieth century, but there were so many characters that it made it possible for numerous Players’ members to take part – 23 in total, if my calculations are correct. The play was set in the misty and watery Lincolnshire fens – very atmospheric!

The Players perform in the cosy Ewhurst Village Hall, which has raked seating, and a tiny but efficiently run bar area. They provide a very warm welcome.

The well-designed programme contained an interesting note from Simon Fraser explaining his 47 year old fascination with this story, and with the writings of Dorothy L. Sayers. There was a four-page article on Sayers, which as a long-term fan myself, I found fascinating. An informative piece on the Dorothy L. Sayers Society (and I understand that there were members of the society present at the performance I attended) was included, as well as good cast profiles, and a page on the Players’ 50 year history with photographs of past productions. To cap it off, there was a marvellous ‘Introduction to change ringing’.

The backdrop was ecclesiastical, church arches framing countryside views, if I remember correctly. In the corner were the stairs up to the belfry. Bell pulls descended as relevant, a well appeared at one stage, and gravestones. Headlights suggested a car driven at night through fog, then crashing, that was clever I thought. In the jail scene a prison-barred window was projected onto the set, and at one stage a clock was miraculously put forward nine hours to denote the end of a bell-ringing marathon. A milk churn, a French flag and some red wine denoted that the action had moved across the channel. There was a flood in Lincolnshire at one point, so people arrived clutching baskets and suitcases, presumably to take refuge in the church.

Lighting and sound were very effective throughout. As well as the sound of the car crash that brought Lord Peter Wimsey to the village rectory, there was often the sound of bells ringing, and crows croaking eerily. The whole was interspersed with jolly songs from the 1920s/30s.

There were plenty of folk dressed as country tradespeople with flat caps, overalls, jerkins, aprons, wellies and so on. The ladies wore 1930s type skirts, blouses, dresses, coats and marvellously evocative hats. Emily the maid looked the part in black and white uniform. Bunter, Wimsey’s immaculate manservant was elegant in black, with chauffeur’s cap where appropriate. Potty Polly sported a blonde wig of long plaits. Lord Peter was in smart 3-piece tweed suit, the officials and police were in black.

Attention to detail was excellent in this production, both to capture the mood of the setting and of the time, and also to provide various clues. Not that the clues helped us to guess the outcome – I was foxed right to the last, as of course was the intention.

This was a great team production, everyone performed their roles very well. One must, of course, single out Lord Peter, as he had by far the biggest part with a huge number of lines. Jamie Boyes quite became Lord Peter, and was very convincing. He was ably assisted by his man Bunter, which role Felix Cuthbert made very amusing indeed, and he played it with great aplomb. Mike Humphries made a good Inspector Blundell, sensible and calm. The youngest member of the cast, Grace Tosh, played her two roles very well, as both the easily flummoxed and upset maid Emily, and as the local squire’s daughter, Hilary Thorpe.

The coroner’s court scene was very entertaining, due to the undisciplined chatter of the villagers throughout, especially the behatted ladies.

The French section of the play was very convincing, not only due to the props, but also because of the great French accents of Suzanne (Amanda Jones) and M. le Commissaire Rozier (Bob Foley). Well done to them!

All in all, this was a cleverly adapted and well-directed version of a great story, full of intriguing and likeable characters, made real by the super cast. There was never a dull moment, the pace was well-judged, all the humour was brought out well, and the audience left having been deliciously entertained, and moreover now enlightened on the fascinating subject of bellringing!

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