Grand Opera House York – until Saturday 21st October. Reviewed by Michelle Richardson
2**
The Classic Thriller Company presents its adaptation of one of Ruth Rendell’s early thrillers, the classic A Judgement in Stone. The story revolves around the murder of a family of four, slain with their own guns.
The show starts after the fact and we are treated to flashbacks, all played out using the one set, whilst trying to ascertain who slaughtered the Coverdales with the guidance of two dectectives, Det Supt Vetch, sent up from London and Det Sgt Challoner. They are really just a tool to take us through the flashbacks. Chris Ellison as Vetch is very reminiscent of his character in The Bill, Frank Burnside, but not so gritty.
The cast were a bit hit and miss with Robert Duncan and Rosie Thomson giving credible and somewhat energetic performances of the Coverdales, along with Pamela Dwyer as the daughter, and Ben Nealon as Challoner, being the best of the bunch.
Sophie Ward as Eunice Parchman was just not convincing enough, for a start she just looked too young and for another her wig was dreadful. We are then introduced to Joan Smith, played by Deborah Grant. Things definitely liven up but her character is just so over the top that her performance was just too unbelievable. How anyone can believe that any relationship would exit between the meek and dowdy housekeeper and this prostitute, turned post mistress is beyond me and never really explored.
The climax, which proved to be not much of a climax, supposedly a brutal and shocking scene, with gunshots, shouting and the opera, was so ridiculous several members of the audience just giggled.
I’m sure that there was a lot of promise in this play but it just fell flat. Maybe the direction should have emphasised the tension and got rid of the pointless humour as I’m not sure if it was trying to be a serious thriller, or a farce with the occasional uncomfortably moment.