“Prescription For Murder” by Beeston Players
Round Hill School, Beeston

In the seemingly quiet Devonian town of Bere Knighton there is never a dull moment for Dr. Richard Forth. Not only does he have a hectic work schedule and an awkward friendship with his ex-girlfriend, but his wife, Barbara, is constantly ill and nobody knows what is wrong with her.

When Eric Dawson, a stranger, claims to have known Richard's second fiancee - a woman Richard claims does not exist - Barbara's health issues worsen and she isn't the only one. With bad luck spreading almost as quickly as bad news, it seems somebody is out to kill Barbara, and anyone else who gets in their way.

I've never seen this thriller before, and I love a good thriller, but this isn't a good thriller...it's a BRILLIANT thriller with lots of red herrings and a twist at the end that I did not see coming.

I thought I knew who the killer was, even though I thought it to be too obvious, but you never know! At the start of Act Two, I had changed my mind, and then two thirds through Act Two, I changed my mind again,,, and then comes the twist!! Mwah Ha Ha Ha Ha.....

Kevin Fairbrother (Dr Richard Forth), Sarah Nicholson (Barbara Forth), Alison Williams (Dorothy) - who would make a brilliant Miss Marple character - plays the Forth's house keeper, Jill Griffiths (Mary) and Paul Langston (Allan) play close friends of the Doctor and his wife, Tom Jenkins (Eric), the stranger in town and Karen Livesey (Julia) the very close friend of the Doctor, who seemingly would do anything to welcome the Doctor's bedside manner. But who out of this lot is the possible murderer?

This story and cast had me on the edge of my chair as I tried to work out motives, methods and suspects, only for the red herrings to throw me off of the scent. But does the murderer get away with it? If not who surfaces as the hero of the piece? Only one way to find out......

Directed by Barbara Barton, she and her cast keep the mystery very close to their chests and provides a very stylish thriller. It is very dark with just a few throw away comic lines, very much in the style of Midsomer Murders.

The sound effects by Sam Williams and Nina Tunnicliffe are well executed, and while there are no fancy lighting designs needed, the black outs divided the scenes well and let the audience know their cues for applause, thanks to Fiona Maxwell who operated the lighting design.

The set had a working fireplace and I am so pleased that when drinks were dished out, there were real drinks decantered, all adding to the realism. Little things like this please me but also show an attention to detail that could have been overlooked, but wasn't.

It's one of those plays that you really can't wait for the interval to pass, just so that you can find out whodunnit. It's also one of those plays that is not performed that often, so is worth seeing for both of the above.

Another reason is that the cast, production team and the whole Front Of House staff are all so welcoming. There were a few new people there tonight who had not seen a Beeston Players show, and the FOH staff treated them like old friends; nothing is too much trouble for this group, and that is why their core group of supporters grow with every production.

Another success to end the year on for this group.

“Prescription For Murder” is at Round Hill School in Beeston until Saturday 23 November. It's just what the doctor ordered.......