Chris Bean, Dennis Tyde, Annie Twilloil, and Robert Grove in The Murder at Haversham Manor. Photo by Stoo Metz.
I regret to say last evening was another unfortunate Opening Night for the beleaguered Cornley Dramatic Society, whose production of Susie H. K. Brideswell’s 1922 murder mystery The Murder at Haversham Manor was beset by a most dreadful series of strange and unusual misadventures.
The play, a dated but relatively benign relic that Director Chris Bean dredged up from the attic of the public library, tells the story of a wealthy lord, Charles Haversham (played by Jonathan Harris), who is found dead by his old school chum from Eton, Thomas Colleymoore (Robert Grove), and his butler Perkins (Dennis Tyde). They call the Inspector, played by Bean himself, who attempts to untangle the mystery, which also involves Charles’ brother Cecil (Max Bennett) and his fiancée, Florence (Sandra Wilkinson), who is partial to fits of absurd hysteria.
I must give the cast some credit for their tenacity, which verged on stubbornness, to fulfill their obligations to see this play through from the troubling moments with the set in the first scene to the bows, which were done largely amongst a pile of rubble of their own making. It was difficult to believe one’s eyes when Jonathan Harris, as the dead Master Haversham, got up and walked on and offstage, but this paled in comparison to Max Bennett’s continual winks and asides to the audience, like a kindergartener in his first Christmas concert. Might someone please lend Mr. Tyde a dictionary with phonetics before his next performance to spare us all his butchery of the English language. Miss Sandra Wilkinson has ample stage presence, but seems to be auditioning for a role in The Merry Widow. Mr. Grove, who audiences here will recognize from many other Cornley Dramatic Society “productions”, including last year’s disaster Cat, seems at times aptly embarrassed to be in such meagre company.
We asked Chris Bean if the set would be repaired in time for tonight’s production, and a response was not received prior to press time.
The Play That Goes Wrong plays at Neptune Theatre (1593 Argyle Street, Halifax) until October 22nd. Performances are Tuesday to Sunday at 7:30pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00pm. Tickets are available online here or by calling the Box Office at 902.429.7070 or visiting in person at 1593 Argyle Street, Halifax.
Special Dates:
SUPPORT FOR CULTURE
INDUSTRY NIGHT:
Tuesday, October 3 – 7:30 pm
TALK BACK NIGHT:
Tuesday, October 10 – 7:30 pm
AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE
Thursday, October 12 – 7:00 pm
MASKED PERFORMANCES:
Sunday, October 8 – 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Neptune Theatre is fully accessible for wheelchair users. For more Accessibility Information Click Here.
