“Sleighed To Death” by Tabs Productions
Nottingham Theatre Royal

Just as most local theatres are winding down their season, along comes the Colin McIntyre Classic Thriller Season to fill that gap. It’s definitely one season that I personally look forward to.

The first of the four week run of classic thrillers starts with “Sleighed To Death”. The prequel of the Inspector Pratt stories, written by Peter Gordon, where Pratt sets about solving an attempted murder. And provides comedy as well as thrills.

1920s England, it’s Christmas Eve in the manor house of the bumbling aristocrat, Sir Walton Gates (Andrew Fettes) and his wife Grace (Karen Henson). His daughter Emma (Emma Vickery) from a previous marriage arrives from town with her new companion in tow, the dashing James Washington (David Martin) and added to the mix is Sir Walton’s estranged brother Archie (Jeremy Lloyd-Thomas), recently returned from years spent in Australia, bringing with him an appetite for mischief.

Enter England’s most confused police officer, Sergeant Pratt (David Callister), who unwittingly kicks a hornet’s nest of English gentility and the evening soon descends into chaos. Pratt, together with his assistant, Constable Mary Potter (Susan Earnshaw), is on a fund-raising mission with his magic show.

Magic tricks will fail miserably, shots will inadvertently ring out and identities will be confused but can Pratt identify the individual with murderous intent before a body is found? Probably not . . .

“Sleighed To Death” takes us back to the start of Inspector Pratt’s career and we discover that his early life as a policeman is no less hilarious than his later exploits into sleuthing!

As Pratt stated in the play, this is a case of Who - didn't - do it -dunnit... and that's enough of a spoiler alert from me!

As to be expected from Tabs Productions, the cast is first rate, the comedy is delivered with split second timing, and while I wasn't intending to single any actor out, I must say that David Callister's part was superb!!! To deliver his script with the fluidity and naturalness and with his comedy timing was just a masterclass in comic theatre.

Being a fan of accents, there were several in this play but are they all as they seem?

A wonderful comedy thriller to kick off this 30th season off, with some marvellous 1920's costumes and wigs (Geoff Gilder), Expertly Directed by John Goodrum and a brilliant set design by Sarah Wynne-Kordas.

“Sleighed To Death” is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 4 August 2018.

Photos by Simon Cooper.