REVIEW: AN ABSOLUTE FARCE OF A MURDER MYSTERY by Peter Rae at Drayton Arms Theatre 28 Feb - 11 March 2023

‘a night of nonsensical laughter brought on by witty dialogue and antics of memorable and colourful characters’ ★★★★ ½

Manning, the butler (Christian Ballantyne) … didn't do it. It was more conspiratorial than that. What he did do was set the stage for an absolute farce, as advertised. Set in a grand drawing room of Garbadale Manor, various characters (or suspects) appear, and it becomes clear that the murder is not what we think - and the murderer is not who we expect, in this unexpected storyline.

A very accomplished cast, including the play’s writer and director, led us through the tale. Lady Susan (Helen Bang who was also the director) really embodied the role of the wealthy love interest working in the realm of spirits and séances with vivacity. Her clothing (designed by the talented Lizzie Maria Wood) was as vibrant as her character. Lord Sebastian Hardcastle (Peter Rae) has the laudable role of the “self-described rake” and is the real-life writer of the show, a truly brave situation handled deftly. Lady Honoria (Rosalind Blessed) and brother, Sir Percy (Duncan Wilkins) portray their pathetic lives with comical perfection while their father, “The Monstrous Patriarch of Garbadale Manor” (Toby Wynn Davies) made the audience wish for his horrible demise. The maid (Holly Ashman) did an impressive job of changing her accent in the most believable way. A special applause goes for the ghostly apparition (Zuzana Spacirova) which weaves its way into this convoluted, yet engaging, story.

Some plays make you wish you could see in the mind of the creator. This is one of them: the dialogue sparkled, and the comedy worked. The pace of this show is rapid and the introduction of each of the 8 characters is unique using the two entrances in this intimate space with brilliant directorial panache. And talk about breaking the fourth wall. Two of the characters take us (literally) into the mind of the writer with discussion of narration, filler, and back story. One needs to be on their toes to catch it all.

Does the piece consider existential topics or recommend life-changing alterations? Absolutely not.

Did I laugh my head off? You bet.

And a night of nonsensical laughter brought on by witty dialogue and antics of memorable and colourful characters is time well spent at the theatre.

Photography by Jakub Bachleda-Wala

REVIEW: AN ABSOLUTE FARCE OF A MURDER MYSTERY by Peter Rae at Drayton Arms Theatre 28 Feb - 11 March 2023

Box Office https://www.thedraytonarmstheatre.co.uk/an-absolute-farce-of-a-murder-mystery

Cast:

Performed by Holly Ashman, Christian Ballantyne, Helen Bang, Rosalind Blessed, Peter Rae, Zuzana Spacirova, Duncan Wilkins, Toby Wynn Davies

Creatives:

Directed by Helen Bang

Movement Director: Kir Westdal

Costumes by Lizzie Maria Wood

Lighting Design and Tech Operator: Roel Fox

Sound Design by Canonbie Productions

Art Design by Tim Jones

Assistant Director: Rosalind Blessed

Reviewed by Mariam Mathew