Write Me A Murder

Kathryn Smith, Evening Gazette

WHAT: Write Me A Murder
WHERE: Darlington Civic Theatre
WHEN: Until Saturday
VERDICT: It twists and turns well before you expect it to.

WHEN the death of a marked man happens before the interval you know you’ve been caught off-guard.

There’s no messing about in this thriller.

But playwright Frederick Knott has left plenty of treats and threats for the second half.

Leslie Grantham is typically cast as ruthless scheming barrow-boy turned property developer Charles Sturrock.

His young wife Julie (Maxine Gregory) has writing ambitions and, unappreciated by husband, she joins in a plot to kill him off.

Her partner in crime is David (Christopher Villiers) the brother of the Lord of the Manor Clive Rodingham (Paul Opacic).

Nothing whatsoever goes according to plan which makes for an engaging set of circumstances - and you’ll never guess the ending.

This is the third offering of the summer repertory season. The fourth and final production is a period comedy  Pools Paradise.