A Murder is Announced

St Vincent’s Dramatic Society

With such an endearing Village name Chipping Cleghorne you would imagine a peaceful, idyllic setting.

However, when an advert appears in the local paper advising that A Murder is Announced, tongues start to wag and fingers start to point, but who could it possibly be?

With an array of characters we are taken through a number of sub plots that each in their own right to lead to the potential murderer being identified.

Margaret Parkinson keeps the pace as Lottie, the head of the household, with able support from Gillian Parkinson as Julia and Amber Hughes as Philippa. Debbie Eustace provides a very strong and comedic performance as Mitzi. This was well timed and gave great comic effect.

Catherine Henderson brought the right amount if indigence to the role of Mrs Swettenham as she kept her son, Edmund (Dennis Jordan) close at hand. Piecing the story together Keith Hindley portrays a perfect Inspector Craddock with the competent assistance of Sergeant Mellors (Mark Bradley). Vivienne Farnand does a good job of putting the inspector off the scent with her demure, delicate and somewhat dithery character.

Maureen Clare as the infamous Miss Marple did well and looked just right as she deduced the goings on, giving the inspector the nudges he needed to complete his investigations. John Dudley characterises well, both in delivery and appearance as a slightly pompous Patrick Simmons.

Congratulations to St Vincent’s for presenting this classic piece, which, along with other Agatha Christie mysteries are not easy to do.

Paul Cohen

BATS