MURDER BY MISADVENTURE. To 7 August.

Southwold/Aldeburgh

MURDER BY MISADVENTURE
by Edward Taylor

St Edmunds Hall to 31 July then Jubilee Hall Aldeburgh 3-7 August 2004
Mon-Fri 8pm Sat 5 & 8.15pm
Runs 2hr 5min

TICKETS: 01502 724441 (Mon-Fri 11am-4pm; Sat 11am-1pm)
01502 722389 (Mon-Fri 5-9.30pm; Sat 2-9.30pm) (Southwold)
01728 453007 (Mon-Fri 11am-4pm; Sat 11am-2pm)
01728 45402 (Mon-Fri 5-8.30pm; Sat 4-8.30pm) (Aldeburgh)
Review: Timothy Ramsden 20 July

A room with a view provides a view to a kill.The title's a paradox: to make murder seem misadventure would be the perfect crime. To make suspenseful drama out of the idea might be close to the perfect crime-play. This isn't. But, after a crawling, staid start (on the second night, some performances were still finding their way), it bares its individual fangs, wrong-footing us neatly before an ending cheekily satisfying a sense of justice.

It wasn't the butler, nor the policeman. Apart from that, plotwise, lips are sealed. By the end (assuming you go along with this genre''s crossword-puzzle fascinations and if you don't, there's not much point in going along at all) you'll be smacking your brain for not realising what was happening, or proudly announcing you caught a hint before the interval.

Maurice Rubens' set for an affluent crime-writer's coast-town flat seems distinctively unmodern. (Where is this place? Moir Leslie's wife starts preparing lunch at 12.30pm yet has to be at a Conference in London by 3.30).

Alister Cameron's production delivers straight playing and obvious characterisation, contrasting Hugh Hayes as the plotter with an accountant's mind and Richard Gibson's wayward ideas man. They write lucrative crime-dramas and fall out as only thieves or close colleagues with contrasting temperaments can. The sole woman is underdeveloped; Moir Leslie does her patient best, as does Simon Snashall playing the cunning detective.

The bigger mystery remains how Jill Freud continues mounting these summer seasons, providing several weeks' work at a thin time in the theatre year, presenting productions in two small towns. This year she's faced a sudden funding cut from Waveney District Council (shameful, however hard-pressed they are. Do they know how much visitor money and local happiness Freud's company annually provides?)

It's theatre that exudes individual energy and commitment. If you're in Southwold or Aldeburgh you know the theatre's there, where it is and where to buy tickets. You're greeted by programme sellers going in and farewelled by the company at the play's end, along with announcement of the raffle-winner (no means of making money's ignored, without exploiting audiences, but this goes to a theatre charity). Jolly good show.

Harold: Hugh Hayes
Riggs: Richard Gibson
Emma: Moir Leslie
Egan: Simon Snashall

Director: Alister Cameron
Designer: Maurice Rubens
Lighting: Robin Shephard-Blandy
Costume: Richard Handscombe

2004-07-23 15:54:13