Scaramouche Theatre Company performed Take Away The Lady a whodunnit by Jimmie Chinn
FOR their spring production, Scaramouche Theatre Company chose Take Away The Lady, a whodunnit by Jimmie Chinn first performed in 1985. The play revolves around the rather strange Doubleday family over two days and the scene is set with various members all closeted in one room, bored and waiting to know why they have been summoned.
Alan Ponting was the curious crossword-afficionado brother-in-law Richard Powell and newcomer to the company, Francesca Tucker was his chain-smoking, scornful wife, Celia. Tess Kazim was good as nervous, submissive Emma Doubleday, lost in her own world, constantly playing interminable games of patience.
Sophie Hills burst onto the stage as sister-in-law Gilda Doubleday, wearing very stylish clothes, with no idea why she too has been summoned to the meeting. All four are thoroughly disgusted with the long delay.
Andrea Cutler was ice-cold as the bossy, imperious Lavinia Doubleday who eventually joins the others to announce that their brother Matthew is coming home, having spent 15 years in prison for allegedly pushing their mother out of a window. None of the family has contacted him during his absence, shunning him even to the extent of saying that he had died.
Another newcomer to the cast, Chris March, was faultless as Matthew who comes into this claustrophobic scene still claiming his innocence, and Danny Lyons completed the cast as the rather bewildered father, Charles Doubleday.
The play was directed by Anne Ponting and proceeded quite smoothly with only a few glitches in the second half on the first night, but I was pleased that Emma finally has her day and puts Lavinia firmly in her place.
An unusual suspense play that keeps everyone guessing until the last scene: if it wasn't Matthew, then who killed Mother? Accusations abound but then the main suspect Gilda is killed, so who is it? And for that, I'm afraid you will have to wait for another 'outing' for this lesser-known play, if you can find one.
Alison Smith