Written by Norman Robbins, by arrangement with Samuel French Ltd.
Directed by Lesley Rae
'Another One Bites the Dust' was the recurring theme throughout this Medstead Players production, which I was fortunate enough to see during its 3 night run at Medstead Village Hall. In this Norman Robbins' comedy, it was the cast that were falling like flies.
Many years earlier, the Players put on 'A Tomb with a View', which was the first play in this series. The new play gave the audience the chance to encounter the remaining members of the Tomb family, all successful in their line of business - the business of murder. The difference being that it was the Tomb family who were the victims. They were all assembled at the fallen down mansion, which was their legacy following the death of Uncle Septimus.
The family solicitor (Stan Whitcher) had his own designs on the family fortune, but met his untimely end during the first Act. His death was followed by Octavia Tomb (Sue Ovell), then Fabia - Claire Frazer showing what a good new addition she will be to the Players, next Augustus - welcome back Graham Pettitt. Henrietta Tomb played by Pam Kercher, met her end next, with Athene Tomb (Carol Bedingfield) and Zoe Mapleton (Jane Parsons) quickly following. This left only the hired help, Vernon Prewitt, excellently camped up by Dominic Clifford and Edna Honeywill (Anita Prior) and Larry Lewis (Stephen Forster), a children's entertainer with clown suit and a natty line in bathroom towels. When Larry was poisoned, we found out that Vernon and Edna were the children of Vesta, yet another of the Tomb family.
If this quick explanation is difficult to follow, spare a thought for the audiences, who had to work it out on the night, but the excellent performances made the complicated plot easy to follow. Congratulations to all concerned, especially Director, Lesley Rae and Producer, Marion Rogers.
It is pleasing to note that each of the performances was well attended. So much effort goes in to putting on local Am Dram, that it is good to see the actors rewarded by good audiences and the audiences rewarded by good plays and good performances.
[David Rae]
The Medstead Players brought some welcome frivolity to the Village Hall in the run up to the festive season with a three night showing of Norman Robbins' black comedy 'Tiptoe through the Tombstones'.
A delightful farce from beginning to end, this was amateur theatre as it should be, with players and audience coming together for a touch of escapism and a roaring good time. Some years ago the Players staged 'A Tomb with a View' - the first play in the series, which attracted appreciative reviews.
Requiring excellent timing and larger than life characterisation, this play features the remaining members of the dysfunctional Tomb family, all intent on inheriting the family silver following the death of their Uncle Septimus.
The play opens with the arrival at the Tomb family home, of the scheming lawyer, Mortimer Crayle (a crusty Stan Whitcher) and his secretary, Zoe Mapleton (an efficient Jane Parsons) who have gathered the family to inform them of their inheritance. Crayle has designs on the estate that necessitate eliminating all Tombs - but he is to be outwitted.
Fog descends on the gloomy mansion and in the cobwebby corridors things and people are seldom what they seem.
Poison is in every decanter and there are mysterious disappearances. Hosts and guests join the rising pile of bodies in the cellar. Crayle was the first to go, meeting an untimely and unexpected demise in Act 1.
The next to meet an unfortunate end was Octavia Tomb, played with a glorious presence (and an obvious love of sherry) by Sue Ovell. Her death was followed in quick succession true to the recurring theme: 'Another one bites the dust!
There was Fabia Tomb, aka Claire Frazer, a strong and colourful addition to the Players; Graham Pettitt, in a return to the Medstead stage as Augustus Tomb; Henrietta Tomb, played with amusing eccentricity by Pam Kercher and Athene Tomb, a confident performance by another Medstead stalwart, Carol Bedingfield.
This left only the hired help, Vernon Prewit - riotously camped up by Dominic Clifford, Edna Honeywill (Anita Prior) - a housekeeper with a well kept secret, and Larry Lewis (Stephen Forster), a children's entertainer whose clown suit was not to be missed. When Larry was poisoned it became obvious that Vernon and Edna were also Toombs!
It was a glorious spoof with the Medstead Players delivering some cracking lines and, while some of the timing was slightly out , there were many times when the audience was creased up.
A great tonic and a great success for the whole team, but in particular for director, Lesley Rae, and producer, Marion Rogers.
Cast:
Vernon Prewitt - Dominic Clifford
Edna Honeywill - Anita Prior
Zoe Mapleton - Jane Parsons
Mortimer Crayle - Stan Whitcher
Octavia Tomb - Sue Ovell
Henrietta Tomb - Pam Kercher
Augustus Tomb - Graham Pettitt
Athene Tomb - Carol Bedingfield
Larry Lewis - Stephen Forster
Fabia Tomb - Claire Fraser