The Little Theatre Leicester – until 1st November 2025
Reviewed by Amarjeet Singh
2**
Emlyn Williams’ play A Murder Has Been Arranged hinges on a rather convoluted and farfetched premise. Which unfortunately doesn’t wear well. The plot concerns an unusual party that takes place on the stage of an empty theatre, rented for the occasion of Lord Jasper’s 50th birthday. Lord Jasper is something of an expert in all things occult and the theatre is reputed to have its own ghostly apparitions, hence his choice of location. Legend has it that a murder once committed at the St. James Theatre, that a mute woman will appear on stage and reveal the murderer. In addition to this, according to the terms of a will, if Jasper can survive until 11 pm, he stands to inherit 2 million pounds. Also in the running for the money is Jasper’s only surviving relative, Maurice Mullins, who will inherit the money if Jasper doesn’t make it to midnight. Of course, the mysterious relative shows up.
Sadly, this rendition of the play offers nothing new or inventive. There is no mystery as we know who the murderer is, the spookiness falls flat and the flaws in the plot make for a wholly unsatisfactory piece of theatre. It’s all a bit ponderous, convoluted and unconvincing. There is no real fear or suspense and not for the first time this season, I was left questioning the choice of play.
Andrew Webster’s portrayal of Lord Jasper misses the mark; his character lacks the eccentricity and edge needed to sell the occultist angle. Daniel Creedon’s Jimmy North, while technically proficient, veers into exaggerated territory, undermining the believability of his relationships on stage. Charlotte Brown brings charm to the role of Jasper’s young bride, though her scenes with North suffer from a lack of chemistry. Nadine Hossent, as the bride’s mother, injects energy with a performance that balances haughty elegance and maternal desperation. Angela Hill shines as Mrs Wragg, delivering a fiery and entertaining performance, while Joy Brankin-Frisby adds tension as the jittery Miss Groze—though her nervousness stems from reasons unrelated to the ghostly lore. Paul Large’s Maurice Mullins is flamboyant and commanding, but the character could benefit from more nuance. Dorota Wojtkowska’s portrayal of ‘The Woman’ lacks the eerie impact the role demands, coming across more as repetitive hysteria than chilling mystery.
I’m not sure if this is all performance based or if this was the intention of director John Ghent, whose nostalgic passion for the play is evident, but the staging feels static and outdated. The cast are often prone on stage, waiting for cues or their turn to speak, much like sim characters awaiting activation. The dialogue-heavy script demands dynamism to elevate the piece, but alas, there is none. The set is rather full; furniture fills it and there is a dining table that is repeatedly dressed by various characters. This play is long and drawn out, the humour does not land and the performances do not hold up. It takes an extraordinary amount of time to set the scenes, then it drifts in the doldrums for a while waiting for the clock to tick towards 11 o’clock when the unexplained and unnatural take over.
While there are occasional clever effects and moments, such as the manipulation of a character into writing a suicide note, the overall tension and fear factor fall short. With a fresher, more vigorous interpretation, this vintage piece might have found new life. As it stands, A Murder Has Been Arranged feels like a missed opportunity.