THE curtain went up for St Vincent's Dramatic Society's latest production - and on the menu was murder. 

From the outset of comedy drama Curtains up on Murder, a thriller written by Bettine Manktelow, each member of the cast played their parts to perfection as a local amateur dramatics society rehearsing in a theatre at the end of a pier. 

Egotistical director Martin (Vincent Bradley) directs the production 'Dead on Time' with his neglected wife Sylvia (Trisha Shorten) taking the lead role alongside her frustrated (and secret) bit on the side Alex (Brett Tabone). They are joined by eccentric knitter Moppett (Margaret Parkinson), timid youngster Ginny (Gilly Parkinson) and sweet-natured Sandra (Ann Campbell). 

As the caretaker Harry (Bert Halliday) forecasted, there's a storm brewing - he can smell it. But as he leaves the theatre he locks the cast in the weather-beaten hall, leaving them stranded with no phone. 

As time goes on - it is revealed that some of them have skeletons in their closets and what appears to be ghosts in the cupboard. 

As the drama unfolds and the affair between Alex and Sylvia becomes known by Alex's devastated partner Linda (Debbie Eustice), there are bigger worries as Sandra tragically falls down the trapdoor and is seemingly dead - but was it an accident or did someone leave it open?

Tensions rise even more as poor Moppett is the next to snuff it after drinking what she thought was Martin's whiskey, followed by Linda then Ginny. 

Suspicions almost bring the remaining love triangle to breaking point, before Martin finally did the heroic thing and jumped in the sea to swim for help. 

As the plot unfolded, a couple of unexpected twists came with it - bringing some gasps and plenty of laughs from the audience. 

Despite being split into three acts the production was the right length, and a couple of forgotten lines didn't matter as the cast's energy keeps the pace going nicely throughout.

A well thought out set and the eerie sound of thunder and flashes of lightning completed package, bringing suspense and worry as to whether the theatre was haunted. 

Curtain up on Murder, directed by Maureen Clare, is an entertaining and funny whodunit - a "show to end all shows".