WRITE ME A MURDER

As always a full house of Playgoers for Grange Players latest offering, a murder mystery play by Frederick Knott, best known for his play "Dial M for Murder."

A good well dressed set of clever design with an extra room offset within the main set. Lots of props and good costumes.

Main characters were David Rodingham (Aarron Armstrong Craddock) and Clive Rodingham (Joseph Hicklin) together at Rodingham Manor awaiting the death of their Father and discussing who would inherit what. Clive, the older of the two brothers, becomes Lord of the Manor on his Father's demise. A no nonsense GP, in the form of Dr Elizabeth Woolley (Elana Serafinas) keeping them up to date with a blow by blow account of what is happening to their Father "in the room upstairs" until his end. All of this adds up to the perfect murder mystery.

Enter Charles Sturrock (Andy Jones) and his wife Julie (Millie Farrelly). Property dealer Charles is overbearing and dominates his wife. He hopes to convince the brothers to enter into property deals with him and to aid this he persuades writer David that Julie would be the perfect co-writer for him. The two become attracted to each other and between them concoct a crime novel which they take a step further and turn it into reality. They plan to murder Clive so that David can inherit his money and the two can make a life together.

The actors were ideally matched and bounced their lines off each other without any time wasting. Even early in the run they were all secure in their lines and characters.

I am sure I was not the only member of the audience who was not ready for the twists and turns presented.

I was so absorbed in the action from the stage that I was definitely not ready for the surprise ending. What more can you ask from a mystery play?

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.