Are you alright Jack ?

Another victim …sorry, suspect appearing in our next production at the Rhodes Arts Complex 19th – 21st March – And then There Were None by Agatha Christie

You can get tickets here

But in the meantime – meet the dashing Tony Marston

Who are you ?

Jack Stevens

Who is your character?

Anthony James Marston, or Tony to his friends or any ladies that catch his eye.

What’s he like?

An attractive, youthful and charming exterior hides Marston’s sociopathic and egotistical personality. Interested only in fast cars, expensive drink and pretty women, Marston has no concern for anyone but himself, and feels no remorse or guilt for his actions. A thrill-seeker to the core, Marston gladly throws himself into the mystery surrounding Soldier Island, ready to devote his energies to playing detective, to the disgust of his fellow guests.

What’s the greatest mystery you know?

This one is a family story. A relation of mine, George Stoner, was famously convicted for the murder of architect Francis Rattenbury, who was found with his head bashed in with a mallet. Stoner was having an affair Rattenbury’s wife Alma, and both admitted having committed the murder. Both were charged, but only Stoner was found guilty of murder. His death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment (reduced to seven years when he volunteered to fight in WWII) because of an outcry in public sympathy, with many believing Stoner, who was only 18, had been manipulated by Alma into killing her husband. Notably, whilst Alma was found innocent of all charges, she committed suicide a few days after the trial, prompting speculation on what were the circumstances around the murder, and who wielded the fateful mallet.

Stoner died in 2000, but my grandfather found out from Stoner’s mum the truth behind the murder, and who wielded the mallet. He promised one day to tell us, but unfortunately died before he could, taking the resolution to the mystery with him to his grave.

If these events seem familiar, it might be because they were adapted into a play by famed playwright Terrence Rattigan, entitled Cause Célèbre.

As a final note, because mallets came in pairs, we have the sister mallet to the murder weapon. Here’s hoping it never becomes the centre of a famous, theatre worthy murder mystery!

 

 

With a name like Wargrave his day must be numbered ….

Here’s yet another suspect appearing in our next production at the Rhodes Arts Complex 19th – 21st March – And then There Were None by Agatha Christie

You can get tickets here

But in the meantime here is the very suave and judgemental Sir Lawrence Wargrave

Who are you?

Granville Rush

Who is your character?

Sir Lawrence Wargrave

What’s he like?

Wargrave is a highly intelligent recently retired judge, a man with a commanding personality. As the characters begin to realize that a murderer is hunting them, Wargrave’s experience, air of authority and self-accepted superiority make him a natural leader for the group. He lays out evidence, organizes searches, and ensures that weapons are locked away safely. He is multi-faceted, cool-headed and calm but you never know quite what he’s thinking. Is it self-preservation or something a lot more sinister?

What’s the greatest mystery you know?

Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat, Cheops at Giza, Shangri La – the lost Himalayan sanctuary not the Shankri-la cafe in Mysore, mind you after partaking of their home mixed pipe “tobacco” in their hookah lounge I could be mistaken. It could be any of these but no. I think the most likely greatest mystery known is that of the missing sock! Why are there no matching socks? Where do all the odd ones go? It has been one of the most irritating mysteries of life since mankind started wearing socks or stockings.

However, if you would like something a little bit more down to earth or grass in this case. Why do cows always eat facing either north or south but never east or west?  –   Fascinating

 

 

 

Allo Vera ……

Another dodgy subject appearing in our next production at the Rhodes Arts Complex 19th – 21st March – And then There Were None by Agatha Christie

You can get tickets here

But in the meantime – meet Vera Claythorne  !

 

Who are you?

Hannah Juggins

Who is your character?

Vera Claythorne

What are they like?

Practical, careful, intelligent and fiercely independent, Vera does not suffer fools lightly.  Deep down she is a romantic but she has become disillusioned by love and does not trust easily.  As such she keeps her true feelings close to her chest and does her utmost to maintain her composure at all times.  There is no doubt that she is an extremely capable individual whose determination and grit give her the ability to succeed at whatever she puts her mind to.  The question is does that extend to murder…?

What’s the greatest mystery you know?

Why can you only find things when you aren’t looking for them?  Then when you actually need the thing that you found when you weren’t looking for it, you can’t remember where you last saw it?

 

He’s a bit of a Blore …..

Here’s another of our suspicious looking characters appearing in our next production at the Rhodes Arts Complex 19th – 21st March – And then There Were None by Agatha Christie

You can get tickets here

But in the meantime – meet William Blore our version of Columbo !

 

Who are you ?
Andy Roberts

Who is your character?
William Blore

What are they like ?
I play an ex cop, who is now a private investigator. He is a suspicious fellow, with a love of asking questions and food…not necessarily in that order.  He also drinks like a fish. Type casting or what? – because this is a murder mystery, you decide!

What’s the greatest mystery you know ?

I do often wonder why a lot of people leave doing things to the last possible minute.  I suspect that their brains are still running on an old operating system (maybe AdamNEve V1.1).   Come on people, get those updates installed!

 

 

 

More suspects !!!

Here’s the next of our introductions to the dodgy lot appearing in our next production at the Rhodes Arts Complex 19th – 21st March – And then There Were None by Agatha Christie

You can get tickets here

But in the meantime – meet Emily Brent

 

Who are you  Billie Kerr

Who are you playing?  Emily Brent

You’re not giving much away – what’s she like? A superior and arrogant woman with no conscience or feeling for anyone ( you know what, I can tell – Ed) 

What’s your favourite mystery? My favourite mystery is ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne Du Maurier.

Well that was fun – thanks !

 

And then there were none – Whodunnit?

Here we go – following the success of last year’s offering ‘Murder on the Nile’ here’s the first of our introductions to the shifty bunch of characters appearing in our next production at the Rhodes Arts Complex 19th – 21st March – And then There Were None by Agatha Christie

You can get tickets here

But in the meantime – meet Captain Phillip Lombard

Who are you?

Matthew Juggins, nice to meet you.

Who is your character?

Captain Philip Lombard. How d’you do. Have a drink?

What are they like?

He’s an adventurer, inveterate survivor, outrageous flirt, and a bit of a likeable cad, really. Not a bad person, he has principles, but he certainly operates according to the directions of his own, unique moral compass. Coolness personified in the face of danger, he’s prepared for trouble (it usually follows him around) and is never caught out without a suitably sarcastic quip. He’ll always do the right thing… eventually. Probably drives a Jaaaaag.

What’s the greatest mystery you know?

How my wife puts up with me. I guess we’ll never know the truth

Ed – Thanks Matt – incidentally did you know your name is an acronym for ‘Loads Of Money But A Right D…..’ 

 

Auditions !!!! And Then There Were None

Auditions for Then There Were None will take place 7.45pm Tues 19^th and Thurs 21^st Nov at Windhill Churches Centre, Old Monastery Gardens, Windhill, Bishop’s Stortford, and here’s a word from the man in charge – our very own Will Jamieson – 

With 1 act 1 night in full swing, planning attention turns to our next full-length show Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None”. One of her most famous stories, I have been thrilled by it since I first read it on holiday in Corfe. A sleepy Dorset village with a ruined castle on the hill above and steam engines traveling through the valley below, where better to read a1930s mystery.  
The play, set on an island just off the Devon coast, follows 10 strangers as they arrive for a house party whose host hasn’t arrived. Trapped by the weather they soon find out their invites are not what they seem as a guest dies suddenly. How do a poem, a gramophone and a solider figure come into the story? Come along to auditions to find out.

Ooooooh ! We cant wait !!!

Love, sex , violence – amateur theatre at its best !

Ooh look – our lovely member Lisa Turptu as absconded over to be with our pals at Much Hadham for their latest production

What’s it all about Lisa ?

‘ “Things We Do For Love” by Alan Ayckbourn is a dark comedy which explores the changing relationships between the four characters, Barbara, Gilbert, Nikki and Hamish. Despite an early mutual loathing, Barbara begins a passionate affair with her best friend Nikki’s fiancé, Hamish, only for this new relationship to swiftly descend into violence’

Sounds like a proper giggle!!

Check it out all !

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Pastures Green ….

It’s ok – she not going permanently but only 5 days after performing in our One Act One Night, Water Lane’s very own Amanda Green will be heading South, all the way to Old Harlow, where she will be taking part in Goodnight Mister Tom at the Victoria Hall Theatre alongside the magnificent dog Sammy 13th-16th November.

She would love to see some familiar faces, but tickets are selling really fast, so please reserve yours’ in good time at  https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/harlowtheatrecompany