Archives - July 2001

SECONDARY CAUSE OF DEATH
by Peter Gordon

Produced by Mary Frost

THE PLAY

Comedy, set in a country house in 1939. Inspector Pratt, armed and very dangerous, returns to Bagshot House - scene of "Murdered To Death" - to warn Colonel Craddock that his deranged wife Margaret has escaped from the asylum. The Colonel is not pleased to see him, with good reason: Pratt is almost immediately embroiled in a web of intrigue and danger largely of his own making.

There are two separate factions at work amongst the guests in Bagshot House. On the one hand, Cynthia Maple, less famous sister of Joan, is staging a revue as cover for the murder of the Colonel and his substitution with an actor double. On the other, Intelligence agents and double-agents are busy watching one of Hitler's most accomplished agents, disguised as a Polish Count.

Of course, with Pratt on the case, innocents like the housekeeper and Colonel's nurse soon pay the ultimate price while he walks away from danger oblivious and unscathed. Eventually, after the Count accidentally blows himself up with an exploding cigar intended for Pratt, Lily the housekeeper (a British agent) has to reveal Miss maple's plot to Pratt, using very small words. Even then, Pratt is confused enough to believe himself guilty of the murders, but is, at least, prevented from arresting himself. Unfortunately, in the ensuing joy of discovering he is innocent, he passes a second exploding cigar on to the Colonel. That leaves Longfellow, the actor, to take the Colonel's place as planned...just in time for the Colonel's wife - armed with an axe - to find him...

FROM THE GROUP

It sounds serious doesn't it? Far from it, this play was a riot featuring as it does dear old Inspector Pratt. The Inspector, first featured in ''Murdered to Death'', is still as incompetent as ever as he attempts to solve the latest crime. He is written as a sort of English version of Inspector Clouseau, a complete self-important idiot: Pratt by name, prat by nature.

Dave Holden threw himself wholeheartedly into the part and the end result was a joy to watch .The cast enjoyed playing their roles and much fun was had at rehearsals.P erhaps the only thing that didn't quite work was the German character's rant at the audience which whilst meant to be funny was a bit of a shock for them to take in. Apart from this moment the evening was full of laughter and sent the public away happy.

Mary - Producer

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