Review: A Murder Has Been Arranged, Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton
As the ever popular Ian Dickens Summer Play Season draws to a close at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre this week, the company left the best until last, delighting the audience with A Murder Has Been Arranged, an evening of intrigue and suspense, with a host of mysterious characters.
Celebrating on the stage of the St. James's Theatre in London, Sir Charles Jasper is due to inherit £2 million by eleven o'clock on the evening of his 40th birthday, unless his only known relative outlives him. When the somewhat outrageous Maurice Mullins arrives, it soon becomes apparent that he is not all he seems.
The cast is led by the glamorous Anita Harris, who is every inch the English lady, with a polished performance as Mrs Arthur, perfectly complimented by Nicola Weeks as her daughter, Lady Jasper, who is the grieving widow. Oh sorry, that has given the game away, but then surely it is not hard to work out the plot.
Paul Lavers as Sir Charles certainly commands the stage, despite an early exit and ex-Corrie star, Oliver Mellor takes the comedy prize for his portrayal of Maurice, with a slightly manic performance, which may remind you of madcap comedian, Jim Carey.
Watch out for the super talented Karen Ford who gives an excellent character performance as Mrs Wragg, the devoted maid and Poppy Meadows who is suitably prim as the private secretary Miss Groze, or is she? You see no one is exactly who they appear to be!
The story line is a little confusing and in parts unnecessarily repetitive, but all in all, Emlyn Williams' script is a nice example of a good old-fashioned thriller. Runs until Saturday.
Alison Norton
