Or: The Mysterious Death of Helena Handcart…
It is the 1930’s in the sleepy English village of Little Piffling and six well-heeled guests have assembled at Piffling Hall, all bearing mysterious invitations and each one hiding a dark secret.
Soon, polite civility is shattered by the mysterious death of wealthy socialite Lady Helena Handcart, poisoned by an unknown hand. Is Madame Eva Chestikov really a Russian émigré? What is Mr E Eckerslike, a rich industrialist, really doing in this rural backwater? Is Sir Preston de Bagot really as stupid as he looks? Can the guests unravel the mystery before the killer strikes again?
Meanwhile, the servants been sent home and fog is slowly rising…
In April 2024 we presented A Very Curious Poison, a comedy murder mystery written and directed by Tim Johnson and featuring music from the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan.
It was huge fun to deliver and we would like to thank all our lovely supporters, helpers and crew who made it all worthwhile. We gave four sold-out performances at the Bear Pit Theatre (Stratford-upon-Avon), Avoncroft Museum of Buildings (Bromsgrove) and the Memorial Hall (Henley-in-Arden) and helped raise £2,000 for charitable causes in the process.
Cast (in order of appearance)
- Sir Preston de Bagot Tim Johnson
- Rev Compton Scorpion Paul Mocroft
- Mr Edwin Eckerslike David Coulson
- Miss Issy Eckerslike Claire Johnson
- Madame Eva Chestikov Joan Self
- Lady Helena Handcart Patricia Head
Production Team
- Director Tim Johnson
- Pianist Rachel Bird
- Sets Bill Welsh, Graham Robson
- Stage Crew Tracy Humphreys, Graham Robson, Nick Le Mesurier