Towards Zero

All action took place in the lavish home of a wealthy widow, Lady Camilla Tressilian, “Gull’s Point,” set on a cliff above an estuary. The set for the entirety of the play was an elegantly furnished drawing room, that appeared sunny and airy with an impressive artistic view of the Cornish sea in the scenery. The realism was supported by the technical crew for sound with credit given to both Stan Vigurs and Colin Mears for effective changes in daylight and a very convincing thunderstorm that did not interrupt the dialogue.

This was a detective fiction with an engaging cast who all performed ably, putting 100% into their performances and well directed by Rebecca Holmes. The men were dapper in a variety of formal and casual suits and the women in dresses and skirts creating an effective feeling of yesteryear.

Lady Tressilian invited her guests to her seaside home during the Summer. Thomas Royde ( played by Alan Lowe with a relaxed manner), had just arrived at Gull’s Point to visit the ageing widow. He had just returned from a long stretch working overseas, and still waiting in the sidelines for Audrey Strange. Neville Strange, tennis star, (Rod Bissett) wanted to makeup with his ex-wife Audrey Strange (Rachel Holmes) but he had also brought along his tempestuous new wife, Kay Strange (Joanne Bennett). The contrast between the gentle kindness of Audrey and that of fiery Kay was stark. Staying in hotels nearby was Kay’s friend, Ted Latimer (Rory Prosser) there too. Neville incurred Lady Tressilian’s displeasure because he had brought along his new emotional wife and his former wife at the same time, but she did agree to this set of incompatible guests. Mr Treves, (Dale Roberts)was the solicitor and a long  time friend of the Tressilians. The self -proclaimed dogsbody of Lady Tresillian, Mary Aldin (Stephanie Evans) had a knack for walking into the room at just the right moment to hear. incriminating conversations. Lady Tressilian noted Kay is from bad stock. Director, Rebecca Holmes, captures the affectations of these characters well.

The first half established the characters; their back stories and interrelationships laid before the audience. The arrival of Camilla (Lynne Young) lifted the first scene. The audience was directly performed to. She was a powerful presence on the stage and controlling and although she was only in the first half, as she is the murder victim, and featured shortly, she made her stamp.

When Camilla is brutally murdered in her bed, evidence suggests Neville, one of the heirs, as the murderer. One of his golf clubs found at the scene had his fingerprints on. Neville’s quarrel with Camilla was overheard as well. Mary told Superintendent Battle (Ray Lawrence) that she saw Lady Tressilian alive after Neville’s visit to her room before he left for Easterhead Bay to find Ted.

The second half of the play involved the police investigation and the various suspects being interviewed. Battle assumed a stance with his jacket open and his hands in his trouser pockets, not sure if the inspector would have tolerated this whilst investigating the murder of a titled lady in the 1950’s. The role of P.C.(Dominic Holmes) was unfailingly responsive to other characters. He had no lines but showed thoughtfulness.

The play only felt thrilling towards the end, with a chase when it was revealed that Neville committed the murder. It felt like you were watching a drama you could relax and enjoy and indeed one with which the audience seemed fully engaged.

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