RIVERSIDE Drama Company notched up another winner with their latest production Secondary Cause of Death, an hilarious comedy by Peter Gordon. 

This took place last week at St John's Church Hall, Long Eaton. Grateful thanks to all at St John's Church for looking after the company, and of course, capacity audiences. 

Here was a play full of murder, mayhem and malapropisms. Well, it would have to be with Inspector Pratt (aptly named) on the case. 

The scene opens in the oak panelled library of Bagshot House, recently inherited by Colonel Charles Craddock, who had turned it into a country house hotel. It is spring 1939 and war clouds are gathering over Europe. Cynthia Maple arrives to cheer things up, by organising a murder mystery evening. Trouble was they all turn into real murders. 

The first guest to arrive was Lady Isadora Pollock, played beautifully, as always, by Pat Clarke. Every inch a lady with her perfect diction, she chats away to the mysterious Polish Count Puchlik of Puszezykowo, who seems to be a permanent fixture at the hotel. An outstanding performance by John Lomas. 

Colonel Charles Craddock limps in, he's suffering from a bout of gout. Again, another magnificent portrayal by Martin Holtom. 
Henrietta Woolmer-Cardington, an officer in the ATS, strides in, full of gush and enthusiasm. She weally doesn't do vewwy much at all. Orfficers deon't you kneow, she says with a giggle. A performance of sheer brilliance by Liz O'Hara, who like Martin, never disappoint. 

Bossy Cynthia Maple charges in, wanting to get everyone organised for the murder evening, a convincing performance by Moya Magee. 

Then the 'great' actor sweeps in, swirling his cape around him, he's come to act in the murder mystery. Amazingly, as everyone notices, he is the exact image of Charles! The actor Cardew Longfellow was of course, played by Martin, brilliant. 

Martha Armstrong, housekeeper, only a small part, but well played by Joanna East. The other member of the staff, Lily Tuthill, maid-cum-cook, who was obviously local because of her lovely West Country accent, was played well by Janet Bradbury. 

Disaster strikes! Inspector Pratt has arrived, complete with gun at the ready, to a now deserted library, looking everywhere, and seeing no-one looks elsewhere. This part was wonderfully played by Pat Tuffin. Pratt always gets his words cock-eyed, one murder, he said, was caused by a brain haemorrhoid. Needless to say, murders followed thick and fast, bodies everywhere. 

Amidst the chaos, nurse Ann Parley arrives to dress Charles's foot. A nice little cameo role played well by newcomer Amy Hall. 

Now some of the guests weren't who they seemed to be, the strange Count, when giving his 'funny' impression of a ranting Hitler, really was a German spy. The dippy Captain Henrietta, dropped her twitty upperclass accent and became quite authoritative, she too was for the other side. Even Lily's accent proved false, she was a Government official. 

Poor old patriotic Charles wasn't spared, his crazy wife had escaped from the asylum and was after him, but her friend, the so called lady Isadora turned out to be a cockney sparrer and if his wife didn't get him, she would. But she was bumped off before she had the chance. 

So who did all the evil deeds? Well, surprise, surprise, it was Cynthia.

All alone, Charles helps himself to a drink, the door slowly opens to reveal a gun pointing at his head, His crazy wife shoots. Curtain. 

What a fantastic show. All in Riverside deserve Oscars. A brilliant direction by Robert Osmond. 

By June Barker