“Final Twist” by Tabs Productions

Nottingham Theatre Royal

I can’t believe that this is the final play in the Colin McIntyre Classic Thriller Season for this year. Where has the last three weeks gone to?

Written by Ken Whitmore and Alfred Bradley and the action is set in the luscious living room of Mozart loving, classical actor Merlin Foster’s country cottage.

Sir Merlin Foster (Andrew Ryan), a vain, pompous and self-regarding actor, with a recent string of flops and ex-wives behind him, hires a struggling playwright, Charlie Nicholson (David Martin) to come up with a plot involving wife murder.

Eden Dundee (Sarah Wynne Kordas) is the wife who is a bit part actress who had recently help fund Foster's recent run of flop productions. There seems to be a connection between Eden and all of Foster's previous rich and beautiful wives.

Nicholson has writer's block to start with but slowly a story for the play evolves which evolves from Foster's Mozart Symphony No. 40 door chime and a particularly violent killing. Nicholson starts to get just a little bit suspicious after spending time at the cottage with Eden, where she lets slip a few details about her and Foster's marriage, and especially their Californian pre nup arrangement!

As Nicholson's perfect murder scenario is revealed, there is a sudden feeling that life is about to imitate art, and especially with what Nicholson has discovered from his time spent with Eden.

Are things about to go horribly wrong for Nicholson while going absolutely perfect for Foster, maybe not so for Eden! But dear reader, do not forget the title of this play, "Final Twist", and just when you feel that Foster has carried out the perfect murder, Eden walks through the door, alive and well. Could this be the final twist? Or could there be another twist to this comedy thriller? If so, what is in the Sainsbury's carrier bag that Nicholson now holds in his hands?

Andrew Ryan plays a blinder or two, or maybe even three or four as Foster's acting roles take on a whole realm of personalities. He has so many great lines including "I’m not unreasonable. All I ask for is total control" among them! In his long silky cape, he could also be a dead ringer as Nosferatu. Ryan is one of the best comedy actors on stage at the moment, but I've also seen him in some brilliant seriously creepy roles as well.

David Martin is transformed from the nervously excited devotee of Foster to being nervous for another reason, a totally believable down on his luck writer.

Sarah Wynne Kordas reminds me just how different an actor can look with just the aid of a wig. Every part I have seen Sarah play you get the feeling that she completely lives and breathes the part she is playing and the deception that is shown in this role is beautifully played out. You come to realise what Foster is up to but you do not suspect that Eden could actually be part of the plan. But what is the plan? A wonderful character actor, as are the other two.

Directed by Jeremy Lloyd Thomas, the pace of this play is kept fast with the comedy being delivered snappily and the twists executed just when you did not expect them to come around.

Designed by Sarah Wynne Kordas, the set was one that, if in reality would be one that I would feel most comfortable in. Homely in cream, peach with luscious red leather sofas. Very nice.

Sound design by David Gilbrook, and as I have maintained throughout the run, every sound effect was hit spot on. You feel comfortable knowing that if a sound effect was expected it would be there.

Lighting design by Michael Donoghue. Simply a perfectly executed job with every lighting effect.

I also loved the music choices used in between the scene changes. A lot of thought has gone into these choices and all connected with murder if you listen very carefully. Someone said that if music be the food of love, then I loved the music used for the snacking. It kept the mood light and bouncy and well matched with this final production for 2021 from Tabs Productions.

One thing that remained a mystery though is, who is Morton Rifles? Could this be the final twist?

”Final Twist” is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 17 July 2021.

I'm missing you all already and look forward to the thrilling productions that come in 2022.