THE curtains opened to the strains of the Wedding March, being played in the other room, while Baines the butler, was doing his best to be enthusiastic about the forthcoming nuptials of his young master, but sadly not doing a very good job of it. 

This was the opening scene of Oscar Wilde's popular play, Lord Arthur Savile's Crime (adaptation by Constance Cox) presented by the Riverside Drama Company, at The Duchess Theatre, last week.

The impeccable Baines was played with absolute competence as always, by Martin Holtom. Baines did not approve of marriage, especially that of his young master, Lord Arthur Savile. Arthur was played by Paul Norris, who gave an excellent portrayal of the besotted bridegroom-to-be, but who was rather in awe of his fiance's ma-ma! 

Donna Chinn was well cast as the lovely Sybil Merton, his fiance, who was also ruled by her ma-ma, but even so, adored Arthur.

The Dean of Paddington, Arthur's uncle, who was a bit vague about things such as dates, and weddings and funerals, had come to finalise the wedding details. A good performance by Bob Baron. He was followed by Arthur's two delightful aunts, Lady Windermere and Lady Clementina Beauchamp. Two superb performances by Maggie Millington, as the no nonsense Lady Windermere and Pat Clarke, as the lovely gentle, Clementina. 

Making an impressive entrance was the fearful mother of Sybil, Lady Julia Merton, a wonderfully convincing performance, enough to terrify anyone, let alone poor Arthur, by Emjay Sadler. She wanted to know every detail about Arthur before allowing the wedding to take place, and so, had brought along the world famous palm reader, Mr Podgers a seemingly quiet gentleman, who told people bad things that were to happen to them, privately. This was well played by Rob Osmond. To Arthur's horror, he was told he would murder someone in the future! 

Confiding all to Baines, he reluctantly decides to kill Clementina, well, she was always saying she would like to go to sleep and not wake up.. 

Baines sends the maid, Nellie to the chemist for a none detectable poison, giving the reason for the purchase, a nasty dog. A delightful performance of Nellie, by Joanna East. 

The poison was popped into a glass of wine for Clementina, after being passed around in a box of chocolates. She decides not to drink after all, but Arthur who didn't know of the swap, drinks it himself, but of course is saved by prompt medical attention.

A mad German anarchist Herr Winkelkopf has somehow heard of Arthur's predicament and has called to offer help in disposing of aunty. His crazy ideas do not work, and so, fortunately no-one is hurt. This was a strong performance by Brian Hooker.

Meanwhile, Mr Podgers comes to blackmail Arthur, and is exposed as a dreadful fraud!

A lovely twist to the play, Baines has fallen for Nellie, and they are getting married!!

Director Pat Tuffin, assistant director Elizabeth O'Hara.

By June Barker.