Not many murder mysteries kick off with what appears to be the murderer about to kill their victim – which would have taken the mystery out of events somewhat.
But that’s exactly what happened at curtain up, on Thursday evening, when the actors of Bilton Amateur Dramatic Society (BADS) took to the stage of their intimate little theatre in Bilton, near Hull.
Just as the evil perpetrator was about to pull the gun’s trigger, a loud voice off-stage boomed out to halt proceedings.
Phew! The murderous action was all part of rehearsals for an am-dram performance called Adieu and the booming voice belonged to the am-dram group’s director, Daniel Healy (Matthew Broderick).
By the looks on their faces the couple on stage, Lucas Thompson (Jordan Lill) and Natalie Prescott (Cora Gerrard) didn’t like their overbearing colleague – and Daniel had his own reasons for disliking Lucas, who had made him redundant years before. An act for which he still held a huge grudge.
Since the bullying, cruel, creepy, jealous Daniel had run the group, it’s membership had dwindled simply because of his manner. Once an award-winning society, it was barely operating nowadays – and this really annoys stage manager Aiden Critchley (Neal Edlin), who unearths the award and displays it on stage, much to Daniel’s chagrin.
That award plays its own part in proceedings later on.
Aiden’s timid daughter, Lauren (Zoe Eastland) just happens to be Daniel’s partner and though scared stiff of him, loves him. A fact her dad despairs of.
Throw into this mix “reporter” Morgan Webb (Nick Northcott-Orr) and Lucas’s wife, Rosie (Rachel Lawson) and you have the perfect ingredients for a whodunnit, when, where and why.
A whodunnit that is up to detectives Gregson (Patrick Wilkinson) and Phillips (Helen Davison) to solve.
However, one of the officers is in in right up to their necks. A fact that took me and, I suspect, all of the audience, totally by complete surprise.
Just one of the clever plot twists by writer Robert Scott.
As the play goes on, Aiden, screwdriver usually in hand, keeps an eye on his fragile daughter, hating every minute she is with her nasty partner, Daniel.
Meanwhile, Lucas is having a passionate affair with the glamorous blonde, Natalie. Does his wife know? Does she care? You can bet your life she does.
Morgan, the “reporter”, is a mysterious figure who has been hired to take incriminating photos of the couple – by the person who is blackmailing Lucas to the tune of £10,000 – the amount owed to one of the above who shows no compassion when demanding the dosh back pronto.
All of that is the mystery. But what about the murder?
Well, that comes in the form of a car “accident” for one of the above. However, it turns out it is far from an accident. Somewhere along the way, the am dram crew forget they are acting and real life takes over with devastating, and bloody, consequences.
All of the cast have a motive with suspicion falling on one person in particular.
And I, for one, never guessed who the killer was.
This production, at one of my favourite venues, was very well acted out by all concerned, on a simple stage setting that changed little, and never needed to.
We have a painted bookshelf, a tatty sofa, small table, a pot of paint atop a step ladder, and other covered up bits and bobs. Plus, a door that’s not a door, according to Aiden.
Everyone on stage acted out their roles so believably, it didn’t take long for us to get into the characters’ natures.
A couple of the voices didn’t carry too well to me in row G, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment or understanding of proceedings.
And, cleverly, after the interval (during which the audience enjoyed a hot drink and biscuits, included in the ticket price), all was revealed in re-enacted scenes to clarify events.
And to say the ending is dramatic is an understatement.
Edlin, as stage manager Aiden, had the last word – in his loud, clear voice that never faltered all night, he reminded us that nothing is ever as it seems and that, after all, “It’s just a play”.
A play that received rapturous applause from all of us watching.
Reviewer: Jackie Foottit
Reviewed: 4th June 2026
North West End UK Rating: