by N J Crisp

9th - 18th November 2006

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"Twists, turns and a dramatic finale"

Dangerous Obsession

The Grange Players

Grange Playhouse, Walsall

When the curtain opens there is a burst of applause from the audience to acknowledge the splendidly-built set, representing a luxurious Georgian conservatory of a large home, with views across to the parish church in the Home Counties.

And after a rather hesitant opening, this N.J. Crisp thriller lives up to the surroundings, with several clever twists and turns before the dramatic climax. Attractive housewife Sally Driscoll, wearing a black bikini, is all alone watering the plants when a mysterious man arrives at the window, talks his way into the room and sparks a tense situation that seems to be heading for murder. Jessica Bennett is convincing as Sally, skilfully switching expressions from suspicion to terror, then anger on discovering a few unpleasant facts about her husband, Mark, confidently played by Dexter Whitehead.

In the role of John Barrett, the unwelcome stranger, Chris Waters makes up for a slow start, when he lacks a little menace, by stoking up the fear factor with some fancy gunplay in the second act.

Directed by Adrian Venables and produced by Rosemary Manjunath, this nail-biter runs to Saturday November 18.

Paul Marston