Wymondham Players Performed at
Central Hall, Wymondham. 22nd - 25th
November
2017 Review - By Sue Dupont Director Leanne Neave, together with assistant
John Harrod and producer Amanda Oelrichs, brought together a well
balanced and highly suitable cast for the characters featured,
although I understood after the performance that there had been
re-arrangements and re-castings: however there seemed to be no weak
links in the change of cast. And with some new recruits to the
team, the company keeps the standard.
Must congratulate the design and construction team on the set which
looked very good and suitable and worked well for the action.
And the costume team had done well in their choices with some glamour
on show.
The team assembled in the salon on the observation deck: the most
persistent and annoying Beadseller of Peter Fiddling who would not
take no, but who was buzzed away by the Steward Bob McClenning, these
two set the scene and mood for a Nile cruise, along with the
background sound. Arrival of Heather Carpenter as Miss
Ffoliot-ffolkes as the cut-glass and snobbish upper-class in an
excellent period character study, dressed in great style and demanding
all attention throughout her appearances (a dream of a part), and her
niece Christina played by Alison Burton crushed by the aunt’s
personality and demands, and yet finding encouragement from some of
the other passengers, nicely realised role, a good foil for the aunt,
and bringing out the ‘class’ of the period.
Arrival of two men: the Doctor Bessner from Alan Sarbut King, and I
could not work out why he must have collaborated in the deception of
the wounded knee as a doctor, and the mysterious Smith from Ryan
McGee, where did he come from or fit in, was he a part of the plot
indeed or just a voice of reason and sanity, revealed in the
explanation. Think these were two newcomers to the group and worth
keeping hold of for future.
The honey-mooners Kay (Becky Davis) and Simon (John Harrod) Mostyn as
the rich and glamourous couple hiding on this cruise from the third
member of the triangle: they looked so good and matched, we had the
nervous hysteria of the bride and her imaginings and the stalwart
support of new husband (was he after the money). Seems
that this casting saw the assistant director stepping up to the plate
as replacement who knew the show and words, and certainly none would
know he was not the original chosen cast member. A very credible
partnership. And the triangle included the ex-fiancee
Jacqueline from Colleen Giacometti as she haunted her friend Kay, and,
unknown to those of us who had forgotten the plot, collaborated with
Simon in undermining the relationships and ‘murder’. Some good
interactions. Add in the hapless maid Louise (Sophie Cator) who was
stubborn and indignant at accusations but who unknowingly brought the
story to it’s conclusion.
And the role to relish and expand quietly and competently take over
the centre stage, Alan Carpenter as Canon Pennefather just led the
combatants to incriminate their thoughts and actions, stirred the
emotions and atmosphere, added his part into this story, and just
unravelled the many strands in this mystery to reach a true Agatha
Christie finale, a perfect role accomplished in style and quiet
efficiency of purpose.
WYMONDHAM PLAYERS - 'Murder on the Nile' by Agatha Christie
Performed at
Central Hall, Wymondham. 22nd-25th November
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