For their October production at the Blackmore Theatre, Exmouth Players presented the psychological thriller Night Must Fall by the renowned playwright Emlyn Williams.
Set in the 1930s, the action took place in the sitting room of Mrs Bramson’s bungalow, an elderly embittered widow who delights in making the lives of those around her a complete misery. Supposedly confined to a wheelchair, she has everyone under her thumb, including Olivia her niece/companion.
When a guest from a nearby hotel disappears in mysterious circumstances a police Inspector comes to call, and the plot begins to thicken! When Dora the maid announces she is 'in the family way' Mrs Bramson sends for Dan, the bellboy at the hotel, who is responsible for the deed, ostensibly to give him a piece of her mind, but the tables are turned completely when he ingratiates himself into her good books and becomes part of the household.
It was good to see familiar faces back on stage. Ray Virr gave a solid and reliable performance as the Detective Inspector, and Pat Peters was just perfect as Mrs Bramson. Described by the housekeeper as a 'sour-faced old hag', with priceless expressions she was simply ghastly to everyone else but became silly and girlish around Dan.
Clare Philbrock was delightful as Mrs Terence the housekeeper, she certainly pulled no punches in speaking her mind, and had the audience in stitches!
Emily Fletcher 'bobbed' in and out efficiently as Dora the maid, completely overawed and terrified by her employer. Rachel Ratibb made a very effective and sceptical Olivia, behind an impressive pair of spectacles, she quietly displayed complete frustration with her circumstances, and Phil Hatchard was spot-on as the 'upper class twit' neighbour, always hanging around hoping to marry her!
Co-directed by Leigh Steedman, who also gave an excellent performance as the self-centred, twisted Dan, and Molly Morton, ably assisted by Clare Philbrock, this was an enjoyable, tense and well received production.
The set was excellently designed with suitable props for the period and the wheelchair made especially for the production was a 'pièce de résistance' – well done!
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