Dead Man’s Hand
Written by Seymour Matthews
Directed by Michael Bate
19 – 24 May 1997
This captivating thriller employs a play within a play theme in a singularly exciting manner. At first, it seems to be the usual “Agatha Christie” type play; two couples lured to a remote Italian villa to be murdered one by one. It is only when this play is well advanced that we learn we are watching actors rehearsing their own murder mystery. It is shortly after this, when two of these actors have been murdered in the same manner as the characters in their own play, that the twists and turns begin to tease the audience. Who is the murderer and what do those about to be murdered have in common? Yet even this ploy is not what it at first seems! An intriguing final twist unravels the real reason for the whole charade. All in all, an enticingly clever piece of work!
Cast
Jennifer – Jeannie Saunders
Brian – Tony Bate
David – David Maun
Corrine – Judith Brace
Franco – Roger Butler
Pamela – Janet Pearce
Crew
Stage Manager – Eric Crichton
ASM – Elsie Bate
Sound – Graham King, Keith Jarman
Lighting – Ian Humphreys
Properties – Nicky Butler, Nikki Horner
Set Construction – The Old Faithfuls