Playing the part of a woman whose marriage was infuenced by money is Virginia Pope in "A Murder has been arranged"

Evening Telegraph, 1965

Well worth missing television to watch this play

To portray the supernatural on the stage convincingly requires a practised producer and capable actors. Last night's performance by the Rushden Dramatic Society of Emlyn Williams' ghost story, ‘A Murder Has Been Arranged’, was thoroughly convincing and wonderfully entertaining.

The play, which is staged at Rushden Secondary Boys’ School, is to be repeated tonight and tomorrow night.

Set on the stage of the St. James Theatre, London, the story centres around a birthday party thrown by the eccentric Sir Charles Jasper, who is caught up in the supernatural past of the theatre, so caught up in fact that he has written a book on the subject.

Birthday Bonus

Sir Jasper is expecting a birthday bonus, for at 11 o’clock that night he is entitled to a £2,000,000 bequeathment. In the case of his death before 11 o’clock the money will be left to Sir Jasper’s one remaining relation, Maurice Mullins.

The supernatural history of the St. James Theatre and the bequeathment become strangely entwined.

Michael brown plays Sir Charles Jasper with a brash narrow-mindedness fitting to the part.  If anything he fails to bring out the eccentricity of the man quite enough.

Maurice Mullins declares: “I like champagne, I like caviar . . . I am the complete criminal”. Peter Smith maintains this image splendidly.

Sir Jasper’s secretary Miss Groze, is described as having been “christened with vinegar and never recovered”. Marion Knott succeeds in portraying this weak character extremely well.

Virginia Pope, as Beatrice Jasper, vividly conveys the fact that her marriage to Sir Jasper was one influenced by money, and the “immoral adventuress” Mrs. Arthur (Phyliss Clarke), rather than love.

Tony Hirons, playing the part of Jimmy North, switches from posing as a journalist, to being Beatrice’s gallant guardian, naturally and convincingly.

The old cook, Mrs. Wragg, played by Rene Welsford, is beautifully mundane and is the perfect foil to the ghostly goings on.

Angela Laughton masters the part of the woman on the way to the séance. John Neville plays Cavendish.

The play was produced by David Edwards and he has done his job so well that it is worth your while missing television tonight or tomorrow, or both, to go along and watch the performance.   

JH