Was it the Colonel... with the rope... in the living room?

The Party – The Market Theatre

Friday 19^th April 2013

Description:

This play was about a girl called Jennifer, who goes to her Aunts house where a party has just finished.  She talks to her Aunt Clara whom she hasn’t seen in a while, as she is a traveller.  She talks to Rose, who owns the family shop, with Aunt Daisy.   And we see the character Prue, who is the housemaid, and also Aunt Daisy’s friend. Then someone gets murdered...  This is when the lights came up, and we as the audience had ten minutes to decide who we thought committed the crime, how and why? Then the play resumed and the crime was solved. 

Set:

The set was the same the whole way through, with it being set in a living room, with simple chairs and extra decorations of glasses, books, liquor and lamps.  The style was very 50’s with the characters being very well spoken and dress appropriately.  Lighting was simple, with just a wash over the stage the whole time.  Lights only went down, before the ten minute break and then at the end. 

My Opinion:

This play was performed in a small theatre on Sun Street in Hitchin.  This adorable little theatre holds about 50 (approx.) and is very intimate.  I loved the way it was set and because the staging was the same, the play flowed without having any stops or starts.  The characters were well held and very natural.  I liked the story, however, I did at a point feel like it didn’t get going quickly enough, as the actual murder happen 45 minutes into the play. 

Overall, I really enjoyed it and I loved the mystery of the crime, and that you had a little time to discuss and decide what you thought.  The theatre was a really nice space, and I will be going to see another production there because I feel it is small but will produce good quality acting none the less.  An overall, thoroughly enjoyable performance. 

Dates:Friday 19th April at 7.30pmSaturday 20th April at 7.30pmThursday 25th April at 7.30pmFriday 26th April at 7.30pmSaturday 27th April at 7.30pmThursday 2nd May at 7.30pmFriday 3rd May at 7.30pmSaturday 4th May at 7.30pm

P.S – I loved that they gave up a little note pad and pen to jot down anything that we thought might have an inclination as to who the murdered was.  I’m a sucker for little things like that J

P.P.S – I guessed who the murderer was! J

Annabel x