2 hours – 1 interval

Manor Pavilion Theatre Box Office – 01395 514413

www.manorpavilion.com

The Business Of Murder by Richard Harris, Manor Pavilion Theatre – Sidmouth, 31 July - until 4th August, 2023.

4****: Cormac Richards

Take an onion and gradually peel away the layers of skin one at a time; in this action you have the methodology of Richard Harris when he wrote ‘The Business of Murder’. A huge success when it was first performed and ran for many years in London with the actor Richard Todd playing the role of Stone for 8 years.

Harris smartly reveals little by little of the full plot, allowing the audience to work out how it is all connected up – it is ingenious, inspired and works a treat, as we are lead down one path to a dead end and then diverted up another alley. The relationship between the mysterious Stone, a detective (Hallet) and a TV playwright (Dee) slowly makes itself obvious; murder is just one thing they have in common. However, is anyone quite what they appear to be?

Once again, Andrew Beckett creates an excellent set; a small apartment in London from the 1980s; it is packed with doors, cupboards and shades of brown. Stone is a huge role and Dominic McChesney grabs it with both hands and fairly dribbles with delight at the games playing involved; the sudden, almost childlike, energised movements as the character is plotting, is joyful and in the next moment, a look or a reaction is steeped in the sinister. Described in the play as being ‘prissy’, there is no better way to describe Stone and McChesney makes it his own with a sharp tongue and a waspish turn of phrase. It is a performance which covers many different hues and is unsettling, as it should be, it is also terrific.

The roles of Hallet and Dee are rather more straightforward in some ways – or are they? Is Stone a puppet-master at work manipulating his visitors? Simon Chappell is an extremely effective contrast as Hallet; his world-weary demeanour develops into increasing incredulity as the plots unravels. Likewise Stephanie Lodge, presents Dee as confident and in control but her gradual realisation of what is happening is very cleverly delivered.

The shifting power struggle that evolves is full of intensity, bursts of anger, violence and packed with intrigue – it’s a riveting mixture. The play also carries with it rather more humour than you might expect, albeit some derived from the fact that it was written in the early 1980s – mention of the clothes store C & A wouldn’t have garnered a chortle at the time I would guess?

This play requires a cast to work seamlessly together and this is what is presented here. Director, Ellie Chadwick, ensures the play moves with great pace and ramps the tension so effectively, especially at the climax.

Another cracking entry into the 2023 Sidmouth Summer Play Festival and if you fancy a wonderful thriller – look no further.

The play runs until 4 August and tickets are available at www.manorpavilion.com. The Ray Cooney farce ‘Run for Your Wife’ is next in the Season running from 14th -19th August.

Cast & creatives

Stone – Dominic McChesney

Hallet – Simon Chappell

Dee – Stephanie Lodge

Writer – Richard Harris

Director – Ellie Chadwick

Design – Andrew Beckett

Lighting & Sound Operation & Design – Stage Tech Services

Costume Supervisor – Jan Huckle & Phoebe Fleetham

Set Builders – Henry Hayward, James Prendergast

Set Assistant – Dominic Mcchesney

Deputy Stage Manager – Daniel Saint

Photo Credit – Andrew Beckett

Artistic Director - Paul Taylor-mills

Season Associate Producer – Andrew Beckett