The Thrill of Love

HUDDERSFIELD Thespians opened their new season with Amanda Whittington's thought-provoking play The Thrill of Love, the story behind the conviction, and ultimate hanging of Ruth Ellis.
 The last woman to be hanged in the UK in1955, Ellis confessed to the murder of her boyfriend, David Blakely after shooting him on Easter Sunday, in what was described in the media as a crime of passion.
 However, her open admission of guilt to Detective Inspector Gale (Matthew Fairhead), coupled to her subsequent refusal to defend herself in court without proffering any reason or explanation, left a series of questions unanswered.
 Poppy Stahelin must be commended for her role as Ellis as she expertly portrayed the insecurities of Ruth, who descended from the glamorous nightclub hostess to a drunken and drug-fuelled disaster just waiting to happen.
 Liz Hoyle was excellent as  hard-nosed manager of the Court Club, Sylvia Shaw, while Sarah Watson played Vicki Martin, who mirroring some of today's vacuous fame-chasers, befriended Ellis and was herself to meet a sticky and premature end.
 Completing the five-strong cast was Melanie Hudson, as the club cleaner Doris Judd, who became the shoulder to cry on, and provided the rare snatches of  light relief in an otherwise dark and harrowing tale.
 The audience certainly left with the feeling that there was more to tell - but then we shall probably never know!

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.