Photos

(Photos: Peter Whittle)

In Rehearsal

Cast

Croydon Advertiser Review

Theo Spring

Ian Grayson not only directed this light hearted murder mystery at the Miller Centre, but also designed a set for which, if there was such a thing, a top prize would have been awarded. The script demands that all seven houseguests in the library at Orcas Champflower Manor have the opportunity to simultaneously commit the murder and an ingenious configuration of bookcases and heavy velvet curtains made this possible.

The topsy-turvy action kicked off with the bold announcement of culpability by the murderer, but in a disguised voice, which could have been any of the seven guests. Thus our task was still to work out who it was, aided by more helpful and often amusing voice-overs from the culprit.

The play is set in the dusty atmosphere of an old-fashioned country house murder with added comedy from David Kay as Perkins the butler whose shaky moves owed much to Mrs Overall of Acorn Antiques fame. It is obvious from the start that the victim is the oily Capodistriou to whom Roger Dale gave a shaky Greek accent so relevant to the plot. The stereotype house guests arrive for dinner in dribs and drabs – Rear Admiral Knatchbull Folliat (the ebullient Derek G Lucy) looking anything but drab in his splendid uniform and the ladies – Lady Tremurrain (Sheila Neale), Dame Edith Runcible (Dom Mountain) and the ingenue Lavinia Hargreaves (Avril Swift) dressed to enhance their diverse characters.

Silas Bazeby is the dinner host with Dennis Packham blustering over the absence of his wife the hostess and James Highsted as Roger Dashwell, the Hooray Henry of the piece, turning out accents galore.

Act II brings more, much more, than the expected revelations with the guests’ secrets revealed as well as Inspector Bowden (Peter Whittle) and his trusty Sergeant (Paul Valleau) doing their comic best to beat the thunder and lightning and disclose all.

Twists, turns and red herrings galore this is a cheery evening’s theatre, very well delivered.

Surrey Mirror Review

Peter Reed

Best known for his 1970s theatrical hit Sleuth, Anthony Shaffer’s Whodunnit is an extremely well crafted spoof of the Agatha Christie genre.

The complexity of the piece is as simple as it is brilliant, and for those paying attention to the opening voice-over where the murderer muses “Where does one hide a pebble - on the beach”, the answer to “where does hide a murderer” is borne out in the play.

There are several ingredients to the success of this play and The Miller Centre Players, under the expert direction of Ian Grayson, had pretty much covered all bases.

The single set of a 1930s country house library, designed by the director, was quite superb. Fully carpeted, with oak panelled walls, floor to ceiling bookcases and period furniture, not only was the set pleasing aesthetically, but it was also practical in terms of the necessary exits and the working space available to the players. Complimented by some first class costumes of the era, and augmented by a well executed lighting and effects plot, the whole setting was thoroughly believable.

Without wanting to give the game away too much, it is paramount that the cast are versatile in their ability not only to show the strengths and weaknesses of their character, but to be able to do this with two or three completely different identities. Without a question, every individual rose to this challenge and succeeded. Their collective awareness leant to precise pace and diction, while business and positioning were carefully choreographed.

The key role in Act 1, Andreas, the Greek/Turk blackmailer and extortionist, fell to Roger Dale. A finely drawn character, with delivery as slick as his hair, he assiduously beguiled each of the other guests, and the butler, as he exposed their apparent shortcomings.

As the butler, Archibald Perkins, David Kay’s timing was impeccable alongside his master-class of “slow intoxication”, courtesy of the odd crafty slurp.

Meanwhile, linch-pin of the second act was Peter Whittle’s all knowing Inspector Bowden. A fine example of how to command the stage without upstaging the other players.

Ultimately, I am no amateur sleuth and didn’t get Whodunnit. But who cares, it was a most enjoyable evening’s entertainment.