There was something decidedly spooky going on at the Duchess Theatre last week when the Riverside Drama Company presented Ghost Writer, by David Tristram.

The curtains opened to an amazing setting, of a bed sit flat which was incredibly untidy.  At his cluttered desk sits playwright Edward, who hasn't written a play for yonks.  He's about to join his wife Ruby, who had committed suicide exactly a year ago.  Alex, his landlord and friend, finds him just in time, saying the gun is a stage prop.  These two parts were played very professionally by Martin Holtom, Edward and John Lomas, Alex.

In the dead of night, the wind howled and the curtains blew open and suddenly Edward was confronted by the ghost of Ruby.  Donna Chinn excelled in this role, but could have been even better if her costume had been more ethereal.  She dramatically announced she had been murdered.  Edward had to find her killer quickly, as the deal she'd done with her 'friend' ran out after three visits.  The friend was old Nick himself.  She helped Edward to write a play that involved the actors who were there the night she departed.  One was her killer.

The next day, the three luvvies were invited round to read the play, they were Glenda, who, although wasn't really an actress, agreed to read the part of Ruby, Frances and Hedley, both had hated Ruby.  These parts were played with conviction by Janet Bradberry, Pat Clarke and Rob Osmond, who handled his frightful ginger wig brilliantly.

Lots of action took place during the reading, as Ruby got mad, picked up a gin bottle and was about to hurl it, Hedley saw it apparently getting airborn unaided.  Everyone got wet as Ruby got madder, and squirted soda and threw wine, and as she was only visible to Edward, things got rather out of hand.  But she had told him that she would eventually appear to her killer.

As the reading progressed it was proved that the drama queen herself, Frances had murdered Ruby, unfortunately she'd drunk poisoned wine she had intended for someone else.  Ruby, sensing her visitations were coming to an end, dragged Francis to the window and in a dramatic red light, both descended into hell.

A really excellent play that had shades of Faust and Blithe Spirit running through.  The director was Liz O'Hara, able assisted by Moya Magee.

By June Barker