Evening Telegraph 1968
Red Herrings Galore in Thriller
If the acid test to be applied to any good murder mystery is whether it keeps one guessing right up to the end, then Rushden Amateur Dramatic Society’s “Murder For the Asking”, which opened at Rushden Secondary School for Boys last night, is a winner.
By means of a generous helping of red herrings in the best Agatha Christie tradition. Derek Benfield’s ingenious whodunnit keeps one literally in the dark right up to the last minute.
The play, which marks the society’s 14th production centres on an unemployed man. Henry Scrubb, desperately applying to keep a roof over his own and his wife’s head.
He eventually spots a job in a newspaper column which, although giving few details requires no qualifications.
He applies to a box number and subsequently receives a visit from a mysterious stranger called James Franklyn. Franklyn offers him a simple job. There is no union rate – but how about a single payment of £3,000? And the job? To muder me, says Framklyn.
The play takes more than one unusual turn after this . . .
The only apparent weakness last night was an abundance of first night nerves which resulted in prompter Margaret Ackroyd having as many lines in the play as some of the supporting cast. This rather broke the spell in what was otherwise a fairly competent performance all round.
Robert King was masterly as the week-willed Henry Scrubbs who excelled in the art of the “half-truth”. Jessie Maguire also provided the perfect foil as the well-meaning but nagging wife, Dora.
Although taking a supporting role, Valerie Henson as the nosey neighbour, Janet Gregory, was superb. She added a lovely touch of comedy to an otherwise tense drama.
Norman Billington put over well the ever returning sleuth, Detective Sgt. Thatcher and John Booth (Fred Pender) Richard Woods (James Franklyn) and Virginia Pope (Rita Franklyn), also gave first-class supporting performances.
Produced by Cyril Smith, “Murder For the Asking”, continues tonight and tomorrow night.
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