Not many people will have heard of Simon Brett, particularly in the context of stage plays. However, after starting at the BBC, he went on to produce the first ever episode of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”, as well as many episodes of cult comedy series “The Burkiss Way”, comedy series “I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue” and the comedy panel game “Just a Minute”. He is now a full time thriller writer, but this play is very much a cross between his serious writing and his sense of comic anarchy.
The play opens with Boris Smolensky’s tatty touring company rehearsing the equally tatty, “Murder at Priorswell Manor”, written and directed, of course, by Boris himself. The odd thing about intentionally acting badly is that, as the cast discovered, it is more difficult than acting “properly”.
I have to thank the cast for their efforts in bringing this play to production as we started rehearsals somewhat later than we would have liked. Parts had to be learnt in record time because, as you will see, the action is complex.
So, please, sit back and enjoy this sparkling comedy thriller.