Archives - April 1990

MURDER IN COMPANY
by Philip King and John Boland

Produced by Ann Burfoot

THE PLAY

Modern thriller, set in a church hall. An amateur dramatic society are rehearsing under the watchful and unpleasantly suspicious eye of the new caretaker, Smith. He seems to have a knack for being in the right place to overhear all the secrets of the various members and is happy to use what he hears to manipulate them. However, he ceases to be the group's main problem when Doris arrives late having been assaulted by a local sexual predator known as The Prowler. Suspicion falls on producer Philip, as Doris found his scarf at the scene of the crime and saw his car nearby, but she does not want to involve the police. But the group has to do that when Smith is found electrocuted whilst working on the kitchen boiler.

A few weeks later, the inquest has recorded a verdict of accidental death, but that does not satisfy everyone in the group. Young actress Pat is convinced that one of them is a murderer and refuses to go on with the play. Everyone's motives are examined and some uncomfortable secrets emerge, including Philip's wife Margaret having an affair with actor Alan, but none are sufficient for murder. None, that is, until Ronnie, the camply comic stage manager, confesses - he had to kill Smith, because Smith knew that Ronnie was the Prowler.

FROM THE GROUP

Not one of my favourite plays, too dark and sinister for my liking. This play would have suited Mike, but he had yet to discover the joys of Am-Drams!
I'm not sure we did this play justice, perhaps we should have another stab at it (no pun intended). I've still got the duffle coat we had such difficulty in finding in 1990.
At least it was easy to stage, no set required, just a few chairs and tables on a bare stage.

Ann - Producer

POSTER