A Murderous Medley of Mayhem, Misdirection and Laughs

Written by Rachel Molloy

On a very hot August evening, it was welcome relief to attend the theatre that was blessed with air conditioning. Not the only reason to go to the theatre, of course, but it was most welcome.

The theatre seemed full, and when the curtain rose, we all settled in (comfortably) to watch.

The opening scene consisted of Max Harrington rushing around the set of what was well portrayed as the main living room and kitchen of his and his wife Janet’s villa in Greece. The couple are at the age when couples can start to dislike each other and blame one another for their failed dreams. I won’t give away the plot, but you can guess that someone is for it, with the title being “anyone for murder”. The banter between the two characters was good and believable, and funny, but I did feel that Max Harrington, played by John Goodrum tried to play to the audience a tad too much, and at the end of the play, I thought him rather annoying. Maybe he was meant to be annoying; if so, good job.

The scene then progressed into the plot; a murder was planned, and we got introduced to two new characters Suzy Stevens (played by Sarah Wynne Kordas) and Edgar Chambers (Jeremy Lloyd Thomas), who provided humour, confusion and misdirection to the storyline. It was fast, funny and whitty. Reminded me a bit of a mild version of Monty Python or Fawlty Towers.

The remaining two characters Mary Tickwell (Susan Earnshaw) and George Tuckwell (David Gilbrook), stole the show in my opinion. Right from the get go as soon as George responded to Mary’s bossing and bullying, I knew that this couple were going to be very funny. George was very “Carry On” films, maybe not so smutty, but that was the vibe I got – the lovable English boarding school type who was happy in his role as being the henpecked husband and who is constantly told that he is useless.

Karen Henson didn’t get enough scene time in my opinion – she was very endearing in her role as Janet Harrington. The confused and lied-to wife who appeared to not know what was going on.

The time period that the play was set in did have me confused, though. Two of the characters referred to going to the same private school, although not at the same time, and it was said that they attended that school in the late 40s and mid 50s. This indicated that the play was set mid 90s, but the dress style of Max and Janet Harrington was far more 2000s or later. Mary and George Tickwells’ dress sense was more 1930s – 1940s. Its’ not a big issue, but it did bug my analytical brain a bit.

It had me gripped; I couldn’t predict how it would end, which is the sign of a good story. It made me laugh out loud a few times. Anything George Tickwell said or did made me chuckle.

There were lots of coming and going, lots of funny jokes and stories (stampeding goats anyone?). Murder was on the mind of all the characters, but I don’t want to give away the plot by revealing who gets murdered and who is capable of murder. But notice that the title does not have a question mark at the end of it……

All content is original to writer, Rachel Molloy. Edited by Katie Barr.

In-article images credited to Lawrence Newberry and Conal Walsh. No changes were made to these images.

Featured Image provided by Nottingham Theatre Royal .No changes were made to this image.

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