©Detling players 2016
News Review - Noda
The Farndale Avenue Housing
Estate
Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic
Society
MURDER MYSTERY
Detling Village Hall November 2019
The hilarity started with multiple mishaps and murders at ‘Checkmate Manor,’
where the last Will and Testament of Lord Bishop is about to be read. But who
dun it?
An open stage depicted a grand manor house room, with a large never
opening front door, staircase with a dodgy hand rail, curtained double
windows opening into the garden and front of the building, a collapsing flat
which was placed upside down, with fire and painting uppermost during much
of the action. The room was dressed in random chairs with a small table
housing the all-important chess pieces to be either knocked over or disappear
and a standard lamp which seemed to have a mind of its own. There was a
wonderful selection of props. Further chaos was cleverly devised by the
technical gents giving us dog barks to door knocks, sirens and car screeches
to telephone rings, gun shots and wrong lighting cues. So good when it goes
right when it’s wrong, or do I mean wrong when it’s right!
Character costumes were first rate both elegant and sportive with many quick
changes for all the case often causing late entries, askew beards and more
chaos also very well timed. The annual fashion show was fun, with the Rocket
costume a masterpiece and Butler Pawn aka Mrs Castle the cook, in that fat
suit, apron and mobcap, whilst stirring the pot a great moment. Detail to hair
style and makeup applied throughout, particularly liking a neat rolled style for
Lady B’s lovely daughter Thelma displaying her tiara at all times, the
unshaved look and short hair of Sylvia playing the Irish brogued Detective
Insp. and trilby well managed, especially during the soft shoe shuffle routine
miming duet, plus cane and sparkling top hat ably portrayed by Tina Bargiggia
pairing Clare Pearce as Thelma with good pronunciation and facial
expressions. Very good multi-tasking and with a good plum voice was Cathryn
Spain. Again, multi-tasking, Rachael Newton made an excellent Butler,
Colonel and Cook. The two spinster Aunts, nimbly played by Fran Butler and
Sandra Stanley had fun with a wheelchair and I liked their naughty behaviour
and their Yorkshire accents.
A splendid bustling Mrs Reece and other cameos including Regine, were ably
played by Lesley Phippen who led the talented company through this farce at
pace and commenced the proceedings with a wonderful upside-down slide
show of The Isle of Man. The only gent in the cast was David Howell who of
course is type cast as he was SM and played Gordon Pugh the Guild’s very
own SM. Excellent business throughout, timing being critical and I must
mention the chair sequence of removing and replacing was particularly slick.
An enjoyable fun evening from the Detling members under the leadership of
Trudy Caplen.