“Father Brown – The Murderer In The Mirror” by Tabs Productions and Rumpus Theatre Company.

Nottingham Theatre Royal

Week 2 of the Colin McIntyre Classic Thriller Season 2021 and it’s another dip into the G K Chesterton vaults for another stylish production, which has been adapted by John Goodrum.

Father Brown, played by the very smooth John Lyons, who every thriller fan will know from his role as DS Toolan from “A Touch Of Frost”, has been invited to a dress rehearsal of a new play in the West End.

Someone is found dead just before opening night, and all is not as it seems as Father Brown has spotted the shattered mirror in the dressing room! At the time of the murder, all of the other actors were on stage, so who could have been the murderer, and why?

John Goodrum plays Mundon Mandeville, playwright and actor, and it's his play that is being rehearsed. Mundon is liked by everyone and takes the time to speak to everyone from his lead actors to the stage doorman, Sam. Mundon has done the lot from panto to Shakespeare and knows the business back to front.

Karen Henson plays Miriam Mandeville, wife of Mundon and flamboyant actor, but this is set in 1927 so everything is supposed to be slightly over the top. Miriam likes things done her way and does not like departures from the norm. She also is the reason why the top Italian actress who Mundon has cast in the main role has locked herself in her dressing room.

Christopher Brookes plays Norman Knight, a dashing, handsome young actor who is set for stage stardom.

Lara Lemon plays Susie Sands, who when not practically stage managing everything, also doubles as an actor, quite different when in costume, bedecked in glamourous 1920's gear. She is intelligent and knows what is going on back stage!

David Gilbrook plays Sam, the lights man as well as the back door man. He also sees everything, and everyone who enters the theatre.

So here we see the suspects but apart from Sam, everyone is on stage. It couldn't be Sam as Father Brown quite rightly notes, he would not have time to commit murder and get back to his lighting booth. Sam did let drop though that there had been a mystery visitor to the theatre shortly before the murder. Could this mystery person have something to do with the murder, or is this a red herring, as we never see this particular person, but there is a connection with one of the cast!

This is very cleverly written but there is one part that all of a sudden makes events fall into place, and suddenly the clues become apparent. These clues are laced throughout the first hour or so, and then quite quickly we discover who, how and why. The penny dropped as loudly as the plops from the under stage watery sound effects, but for me not until Father Brown started to unravel how the murder was committed, why the mirror was a vital clue, and then ultimately by whom.

The costumes are very classy. Think Downton Abbey and that is the level of class we are looking at, and Karen gets to wear some wonderful costumes and wears the best wigs.

John Goodrum not only features as the main character, apart from Father Brown of course, but he also Directs the play and designed the set. Cleverly transporting us from scene to scene by excellent lighting.

As usual the sound design was perfect, thanks to David Gilbrook.

Tabs and Rumpus most definitely put the "class" into Classic thriller in this production, acknowledged by the lengthy applause at the curtain call.

An absolute must for any budding sleuth or fan of classy murder mysteries, or in fact, anyone who loves a good story perfectly told and dressed up to the nines.

“Father Brown – The Murderer In The Mirror” continues the thrilling run at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 3 July.