|
|
|
|
|
Love triangle points to death
Design for Murder
Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton
*** Set in the 1970s, this psychological
thriller, written by Donald F East, unfolds in the living room of Clive
and Moira Richards replete with ghastly furniture and a record player. Although the costume is neutral, with the fashion
excesses of the decade studiously avoided, the period is nicely evoked
with incidental music by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass playing
Bacharach/David classics as instrumentals. Clive (Paul Lavers) and Moira (Carly Nickson) are
a middle class couple existing in a loveless marriage which explodes as
secrets, passion and treachery overwhelm them. Lavers is dry and
understated, Nickson neatly unfolds from carping, irritating, shrew, to
scheming player. Opposite them in this four-hander are Philip
Norden (Peter Amory) and Jane Richards (Bridget Lambert). Amory is best
known for his part as plotting businessman Chris Tate in Emmerdale, and
he reprises that role in this production as the business partner of
Clive, and lover of Moira. However his plans are challenged by the
appearance of a mystery woman, Jane Richards, in whose conniving, brassy
ways, Lambert revels. The story plays out over six scenes in two acts.
The slow first scene is in stark contrast to the eventful climax of the
final scene in the final act. Author Donald East uses a love triangle as
the start point for his drama, then adds some twists and turns to beef
up the action, laced with some welcome humour. This is not a “whodunit”, more a “who is going to
do what to whom ?” Offering no profanity, or any risqué material, the
drama is cerebral rather than visceral, and a safe genre piece. After the final curtain Peter Amory came forward,
out of character, to thank the theatre, and audience, for their support
for the production which was a nice touch. Design for Murder runs to
21-06-14 Gary Longden
17-06-14
|
|
|
|
