Ayckbourn’s wit lightens Rustington thriller with comic relief

Described as a comedy thriller murder mystery whodunnit, the suspense and intrigue are leavened with Ayckbourn’s trademark tongue-in-cheek humour.

The action is set in a remote, run-down country house, the home of brothers Mortimer and Brinton Chalke and their sister Jocelyn Polegate, with a thunderstorm adding to the dramatic tension.

All have failed in their creative careers – Mortimer (Derek Billington), a composer whose youthful potential was never realised, Jocelyn (Justine Richardson), a thriller-writer still waiting for her first publisher’s acceptance slip and Brinton (Marcus Carlisle), a painter who refuses to let even his family see his work.

It’s a far-from-happy home, and when Jocelyn’s partner, Norris Honeywell (Paul Jones), an insurance investigator with aspirations to be a real detective, arrives and interrupts a recital by Mortimer, a row breaks out in which Mortimer reveals he intends to disinherit the family and give the house to a former student.

As Ayckbourne himself said: “I’m quite prepared to believe that a household could have one member capable of murder – but five or six?”

Lin Jones is directing the play, with performances at the Woodland Centre, Woodlands Avenue, Rustington, from Wednesday to Saturday (July 11-14), at 7.45pm.

She said: “The cast all delighted in such interesting characters to get their teeth into, some more likeable than others!”

Derek Billington has played Mortimer perviously, some 10 years ago, but for Ellie Bransden, her appearance as Amy Polegate is her first venture onto the stage since school. Jan Bryant, as Wendy Windwood, completes the cast.

Tickets, price £9, are available from the box office, telephone 01903 774849 between 6pm and 9pm until Monday (July 9), or at performances, from 7pm.