This hilarious whodunnit, directed by Hazel Cook, features six characters with varying degrees of eccentricity. Mad musician, Mortimer Chalke sets the cat among the pigeons when he announces he’s leaving the family pile to his former student Wendy Windwood. To make matters worse he invites her to stay and meet the family. Thus kicks off a succession of unexplained accidents, spooky goings on and eventually murder.
Charles Hilsdon made a marvellous Mortimer, throwing his weight around in a pompous manner until he came to a sticky end. And therein lay the question of whodunnit? Everyone was under suspicion. There was Mortimer’s artistic brother Brinton who, in the hands of Steve Wilson, was something to behold! Slightly more normal sister, and surely the least likely murderer, Jocelyn, was confidently and calmly played by Helen Foreman. Her daughter the punkish, awkward Amy, was beautifully portrayed by Ava Hall – a study in teenage body language. House guest Wendy was so perfectly and comfortably played by Pam Cousins that you could never suspect her of murder. Finally there was Joycelyn’s partner and amateur detective Norris, played briskly and reliably by Tim Hands.
Within the plot were some wonderful lines, none of which were wasted and all of which were, thankfully, clearly delivered. (extracted from the Harborough mail review by Gordon Birch) Photos by Peter Crowe
