The Murder of Maria Marten or The Red Barn
Last updated: 23/10/2009 22:35:00
The Irving Stage Company is now celebrating 50 years of amateur productions in west Suffolk. This year's offering has a novel take on the notorious murder of Maria Marten in 1827 and the subsequent hanging of the killer William Corder in Bury St Edmunds a year later.
The style of the production was clearly going to be a fun approach from the outset, with the audience being warmed up to practise their boos and hisses and aahs for the main characters. To complete a music hall approach, the pianist sat in the pit centre stage and the use of signboards at the start of each scene added to the humour.
Chris Starkey was clearly in his element as Corder and relished the audience reaction - even encouraged it. Deborah Croll gained all the sympathy as her dreaded demise approached, clearly comforted by the oohs and aahs from us onlookers. Adding a quaint twist was Andrew Deane as Tim the village idiot and his partner-to-be Ann, played by Christian Jenner. Richard Hamshere as Pharos Lee, the Bow Street runner, oversaw the hilarious Key Stone Cops chases across the stage as Corder's reign of freedom ran out.
It was like panto coming early.
Robert Wright