The scene (set design by Christine Ellis) is an empty stage in the St Ignatius Church Hall. Later a stage set with sitting room furnishings.

It is the mid-1970s, and so the costumes are bold patterns, lace and of course the flared trousers (costumes Gail Michalzik and Melville Theatre). The director employed the auditorium aisle in several scenes. The lighting – very good, atmospheric opening scene – was designed by Stephen Marr, and operated by Tiernan Stephens, Jason Millman and Joy Miles. Audio design was by Lindsay Goodwin and Callon Leam. Stage manager Melissa Skeffington.

       It is a rehearsal night for the local, suburban Amateur Dramatic Society. 20-year old Alan (Callon Leam) has arrived early to meet his new love, Margaret (Jay Shaw). She a woman twice his age and is married to the play’s unbearable director, Phillip (Paul Williams). As Margaret and Alan are cuddling, in the shadows lurks the new janitor, Ted (Ian Fraser) a pedantic, obstreperous man.

      The other cast members arrive, and the rehearsal begins. One of the older members, Phoebe (Julie Holmshaw) and nervous newcomer, Pat (Sarah Langridge) start reading through their parts. The third member of the scene Doris (Dee Rowlands) has not turned up, and is already an hour late, so the stage manager, Ronnie (Gino Cataldo) is given the task of filling in for Doris.

      After half an hour Doris staggers onto the stage in a terrible state, a prowler has molested her. Minutes later, someone is found dead in the kitchen.

       What evil has hit this little hamlet?

The story got off to a slow start, with a poorly written First Act, which is surprising considering the quality of the fast moving and intriguing Second Act. The authors have endeavoured to work into the First Act a bit of slapstick comedy, which – although well performed – just did not work and cheapened the story.

There were out of date references such as to ‘Chief Inspector Barlow’, a character from the exceptionally popular BBC’s 1960s series, ‘Softly, Softly’. However, the actors battled on and the end of the performance was filled with suspense and some fine performances.

The cast performed well, and rose to the occasion – when the script did. The play has a good story thread, and is certainly worth seeing. Can you guess who the killer is?

This production is being presented in the smart, newly refurbished, Garrick Theatre in Guildford. The seating and visual lines are much improved, and the lighting units gradually changing to the new LEDs. When the pre-show announcement was made, it was barely audible, so perhaps the speakers may be next on the list.

Always a very warm welcome at the Garrick.

The 2-hour farce runs until Saturday 13^th February, with a show each evening at 8.00 pm.

The scene is around 1945, in the sitting room of a vicarage in Merton-cum-Middlewick, southern England.

The rear wall has patio doors leading to the back garden, with a staircase at the side, heading up to the bedrooms, and of course the variety of doors around the room, a necessity for prime, farce confusion. The set was well built (Fred Petersen, Malcolm Brand and Clayton Reichert) with a convincing post war appearance.

Geoff Holt, aided by Fiona Forster, did a splendid job of the light design and sound control.

     The loveable but dippy maid, Ida (Jenny Trestrail) is laying the tea trolley for the vicar’s frivolous, young, fun-loving wife, Penelope (Jennifer Bowman) and her afternoon guest, the miserable, Bible thumping, Miss Skillon (Marsha Holt), who has a monastic outlook on life. When the Reverend Toop (Simon Magill) arrives home, she tackles him on a sensitive topic.

     Later, When Penelope is alone in the house, an old boyfriend, Clive (Timothy Presant) from her days at an acting school, turns up. He is wearing a Lance Corporal uniform, and is trying to have a night out of the local army camp before Sergeant Towers (Graham Miles) spots that he is missing. As they light-heartedly recall and re-enact a couple of their fun productions, Miss Skillon returns and catches the couple in an embarrassing situation.

      As Miss Skillon tells of her horror, an intruder (Patrick Irwin) breaks into the house. At the same time, Penelope’s uncle, the Bishop of Lax (John Lobb) and the locum minister, Rev Humphrey (John Forde) also arrive. With so many religious vestments being worn, no one is too sure who is who any more.

 Although the script was tired, the ingenious direction of Lynne Devenish and the performances of her well-tuned cast, the action was well paced and zany throughout. The three women actors were outstanding, and the men well above average. They all captured the style of a good farce perfectly, and kept the tempo belting along.

Catch it before the season ends.