"Fatal Encounter" by Francis Durbridge.

Tabs Productions - Colin McIntyre Classic Thriller Season (week 2).

Nottingham Theatre Royal.

Howard Mansfield, a well-known book publisher, is concerned for his wife, Joanna. Since returning from the country, she has become unusually distressed, nervous and mysterious. The play takes a sinister turn when Howard arrives home to find Perry, a former friend, has been shot by Joanna in a struggle. She admits that Perry has been blackmailing her and, to protect her, Howard confesses to the shooting. Perry dies before the police can question him thoroughly and, after a second attempted murder, Howard is the centre of a complex investigation where no-one is blameless.

This week, the latest thriller is set in the 1960's and the whole atmosphere is of the era, reminiscent of the old TV detective thrillers such as "Jason King", "The Avengers", Department S", well you get the idea.

There is murder, blackmail, deceit, cover ups, lies, a stabbing, it's all there to keep you on the edge of your seat and to keep you wondering who was behind the whole story. After all we know who carried out the murder, but it's the whole story behind the, albeit accidental murder, that is intriguing. And what is the significance with the painting on Mansfield's wall? 

I last saw this play ten years' ago when Tabs performed it last, and still couldn't remember what happened and who did what to whom and why!

I love Durbridge's writing style, but it does take a great cast to bring the words on the paper alive. Durbridge and Tabs Productions what a joyful combination!

The play is like a box of jigsaw pieces without the picture, and slowly you focus on each piece and discover where it all fits in to give the whole picture. And it's only when all the pieces are connected that you see the whole story.

John Goodrum is Howard Mansfield, the husband of Joanna Mansfield and the one who tries to take the rap for the murder, is on stage for practically the whole play.

Hannah Blaikie is Joanna, the wife who is, to start with a little frugal with the truth, and if you don't know this story, will be surprised at why the snowball she causes escalated to the fatal end to Mr Kingsley, played by Pav Maru, and the reason why he was where he was at the time of his demise.

Grace Kingsley, a work colleague of Howard's, is played by Kia Pope.

Jeremy Lloyd Thomas plays Mark Adler. Adler witnesses Joanna's mugging and becomes her knight in shining armour by rescuing her and driving her home to Howard.

Inspector Chris Coldwell, the no nonsense crime buster attached to the case, is played by Sarah Wynne Kordas.

Rex Winter is the man responsible for the mugging, but why did he then leave her bag, complete with everything inside intact, on the Mansfield's doorstep? Winter, who then turns up to apologise, is played by David Osmond.

Hilary Van Zale, another colleague of Howard's, is played by Susan Earnshaw.

There's also a very tall police officer that turns up at the end to make an arrest, but isn't mentioned in the programme, but is extremely tall!

Now, you may notice that I've not done my usual extensive character descriptions, well that is for a very good reason! Every character has some involvement in the string of events to some extent, but there is only one Mr or Mrs BIG. I say that because at times it's easy to get the gender of a character mistaken! (an in joke from tonight's performance - sorry).

Directed by Karen Henson, this is a classy production with just the occasional snigger snuck in. But the best thing is that, just when you think you have it all figured out, things take another twist.

The set design is by Conal Walsh and is all set in the study of Howard Mansfield's house in Holland Park, London.

As with last week's production, the show was stage managed smoothly by Fran Buxey and Alison Wilcox.

Costumes are by Geoff Gilder. Straight away you know the era because of the style of clothes. They're not over the top 1960's but stylish for the period and the class of the characters.

The lighting design is by Michael Donoghue with sound design by David Gilbrook. 

There's brilliant subtlety to the lighting, especially at the close of each scene where the spotlight falls on the character on stage before fade out. The flashback scene is also done especially well with the change in lighting and the sound effects. A multiple of door bells and phone rings throughout number more than enough to satisfy a farce - which this is definitely not - and even Durbridge manages to highlight this sound effect count in the final line of the play.

These actors are so well versed in performance and every actor's projection is clear as a bell. This is one area I always seem to comment on, but without stage mics or radio mics, Tabs actors can make the script audible to everyone, even at the back of the theatre.

Another classy and classic piece of theatre that will keep your mind and imagination in overdrive throughout this two hour thriller. Not so much a murder mystery, because we know who is murdered and by whom, but it's the whole unravelling of the plot that will enthrall and intrigue you.

"Fatal Encounter" is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 17 August.