Rehearsal for Murder at the Waterside Theatre Aylesbury Review
Rehearsal for Murder
Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury
22-27 February 2016
Reviewed by Sarah Bryan
A fantastic who-dun-it with so many twists and turns, it keeps you guessing right until the end.
Playwright Alex Dennison is left heartbroken when his fiancée and leading lady Monica Welles is found dead from an apparent suicide. On the anniversary of that ill-fated night, Alex assembles the same cast and crew in the same theatre, for a reading of his new play. But as the reading begins, it becomes clear that Alex believes that Monica was murdered and he intends to uncover her killer…
What an extremely well written and thought out murder mystery. It had the audience entranced from the very start, my ears pinned on every word so that I didn’t miss a hint or a clue that might be revealed later on…
The way the performance was delivered ensured your focus remained fixed on the central actor, all assisted by the clever use of lighting, the positioning of the props and the stillness of the supporting actors on stage. At all times, each character on stage could be seen clearly, not obscured by one another, which made you feel you could really analyse each one of them as you the audience are the real super sleuths….
Delivered by an amazing selection of well-known faces and led by the powerful Robert Daws as Alex Dennison; a driven and complex character alongside the very glamorous Monica Wells played by Amy Robbins, who dazzled in her gorgeous glittering gown.
As the story unfolded, the layers of each role unravelled to reveal new depths with surprising emotions putting new spins on where the story was leading. How personal perception can alter your view of something, how we see what we think we see or rather what we are led to believe….
Rehearsal for murder kept us guessing and when all was revealed, a sound of realisation echoed through the auditorium.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre holds a very professional front of house, the floor in the foyer looked immaculate, the toilet facilities plentiful and everything was to a really good state of upkeep. The staff were perfectly turned out, courteous and very helpful. The auditorium itself has a “retro” feel to it without looking dated, its comfortable orange chairs and a décor consisting of an abundance of wood and the dark green walls giving a warmth and cosiness in what is infact a fairly large space, and what a delight to sit in an ambient temperature that was just right.
A very enjoyable play to watch on the first night of the performance of Rehearsal for Murder at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, 4 stars from us!
Rating: 4/5
Tickets cost from £11.90 to £38.40 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).
Rehearsal For Murder is at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury until 27 February 2016. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0844 871 7607.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP20 1UG
