 by Gerald Moon
10th-19th September 2009
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               Evening Mail
The Grange Players Grange Playhouse, Walsall Gerald Moon has written a very clever, very funny, very demanding play – and David Stone’s superb production meets it head-on, perhaps even pulling out more stops than the author realised were there. Dexter Whitehead plays twin brothers, one of whom is a camp and extrovert actor who is anxious to have the other one murdered by a hapless crook – for whom nothing goes according to plan. Mr Whitehead suffers much for his art, with impossibly quick changes – one of which understandably resulted on the first night in an appearance with his flies undone – and a prolonged perspirational period in which he wears a heavy overcoat. He copes magnificently. Adrian Venables, too, is in excellent form as the long-suffering hit man. Julie Lomas, as the bibulous neighbour, and Terry Atkinson, as the well-intentioned policeman, complete a fine cast, whose efforts are rewarded by a splendid two-part set. I am sure I was not the only one who went home wondering how many secret trap-doors were involved in meeting all the technical demands. It’s a winner all the way and it runs to September 19. JOHN SLIM VERDICT: ***** Walsall Advertiser
The Grange Players Walsall The old expression, I could have died laughing, comes to mind as you leave the theatre at the end of Gerald Moon's brilliant comedy thriller. It's a cracking tale of a cunning murder plot involving a handgun, poison dart and even swords, which corkscrews its way through the emotions until the final howlingly funny scene. For the whole thing to work the lead actor has to be super confident and particularly fit in order to play the roles of twin brothers Evelyn and Rupert Farrant - one rich and successful, the other an out-of-work, hard-up thespian in 1930s London. Dexter Whitehead rises to the challenge in great style, switching from one character to the other with consummate skill, so much so that he sometimes has the audience confused as to his identity. Which is perfect. Adrian Venables gives a wonderful, humorous performance, too, as the dodgy retired Major Ambrose Powell, recruited to carry out a murder but confused as to the identity of his victim, and in danger of biting the dust himself, while Julie Lomas is a delight as the camp actor's lusty landlady, Mrs McGee. Terry Atkinson completes a fine cast as the hapless bobby, Pc Hawkins, delivering a raffle prize and stumbling on a corpse in the most hilarious fashion. A very clever, even ingenious set adds considerably to the play, impressively directed by David Stone. It runs to September 19. PAUL MARSTON |
