Reviewed by Jacqui Wall
February 2014
Just like Mrs Mangel in the neighbourhood, this office gossip knows everything and can find out anything from you whether you like it or not.
Mrs Piper had the audience laughing from the very first line of the play. Heather Riley as Mrs Piper was a stand-out in this production with her deducing abilities second to none, especially Supt Baxter played by Terry Boswell. Sadly I did not relate to Baxter at all, I found him to be a very bad interpretation of Columbo and wished him gone most of the time. Adrian Heness as DC Goddard the put upon junior on the other hand held my attention throughout. Even when not front and centre, his presence, demeanour and facial expressions portrayed the character of a harassed young bobby who would rather be anywhere else, unless it was with the sexy young typist. David Kinna and Michelle Hutchinson as Richard & Claire Marshall have the love/hate my partner act down to a fine art and Susie Daniels as the love struck secretary was suitably sympathetic. Lewis Baker as Robert Westerby and Debby Kulikovsky as Vickie Reynolds while both minor supporting roles fulfilled their parts admirably. The set design and scenic art as always was up to the usual Players standards and the lighting was appropriate for each scene. A few opening night nerves and fluffed lines but overall the show was enjoyable and worth the trip to see it.
