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Stars explained: * A production of no real merit
with failings in all areas. ** A production showing evidence of not
enough time or effort, or even talent, and which never breathes any real
life into the piece – or a show lumbered with a terrible script. *** A
good enjoyable show which might have some small flaws but has largely
achieved what it set out to do.**** An excellent show which shows a
great deal of work and stage craft with no noticeable or major
flaws.***** A four star show which has found that extra bit of magic
which lifts theatre to another plane. |
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Write Me a Murder
Grange Players
Grange Playhouse, Walsall
**** AUTHOR
Frederick Knott is best known for
Dial M for Murder
(1952) which was successfully portrayed in the cinema by Alfred
Hitchcock, and Wait
Until Dark (1966)
which appeared both on Broadway, and in the cinema, starring Audrey
Hepburn. In between, in 1961, he
wrote Write Me a Murder.
Although the lesser known of the three, it is by no means the runt of
the litter, and was a good choice for the Grange Players. Written in three acts, this is the tale of
brothers Clive and David Rodingham, who inherit the family fortune,
including the Estate, upon the death of their father. Wheeler-dealer Charles Sturrock is only too happy
to relieve them of their responsibilities by buying the estate. His wife
Julie is an aspiring writer whom bohemian David is h This is the directorial debut of sisters Suzy
Donnelly and Louise Farmer. Choosing a lesser known work was shrewd, few
in the audience will have seen it before, while casting so well
demonstrates natural flair. Joseph Hicklin is animated and impressive as
pompous Lord Clive Rodingham, his stage brother David (Aarron Armstrong
Craddock) neatly counterpoints him as the boat dwelling author whose
prospects have dramatically improved, and whose character changes with
it. Elena Serafinas produces a fine supporting role as hard drinking,
chain smoking, GP, Dr Woolley. Medical mores have shifted in the past
half century. Charles Sturrock is memorably brought to life as
local boy made good by Andy Jones, tough, quick witted, and hustling all
the time. But Millie Farrelly , as Sturrock’s wife Julie, stood out for
me, moving from timid downtrodden doormat, to scheming scarlet woman, in
a fine, convincing, compelling, performance. Told in nine scenes, with one interval, the
single set designed by Suzy Donnelly (she works hard) and Quinn Paddock
is functional and effective, yet stage manager Libby Allport also
deserves acknowledgement for all the curtain pulling and prop moving
that nine changes involves. Rosemary Manjunath also excelled in
producing characterful, evocative and authentic period costuming. My
only minor quibble being that the merry widow Julie Sturrock probably
would have been able to afford more than one pair of shoes. Donnelly and Farmer have made an auspicious debut
with this murder mystery. The inevitable initial scene setting is
enlivened by some first class character acting, The humour in the
writing is skilfully exploited, and they have a neat eye for detail. A
murdered character is dragged off stage dead by stagehands during the
blackout rather than experiencing a Lazarus like recovery much to
everyone’s amusement. The full house warmly acknowledged the finale
which featured a cleverly posed curtain call for what was a stylish, and
hugely satisfying production, which runs till Saturday 28th November. Gary Longden
18-11-15 |
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appy
to help. Then fiction becomes fact, as the plot twists and turns.