REVIEW - City Life - 24th January 1996

The audience is still minimal, the production values still make shoestrings look like a luxury, and the beer pumps still whine distractingly behind the bar. But pub-theatre newcomers Rocket Theatre seem to be gaining in confidence with every production. Their last show, a Stoppard double-bill, suggested that working on tried-and-tested material rather than new, ill-chosen plays, might be their best bet. their latest - an unfussy, enjoyable mounting of Edward Taylor's functional whodunnit, Murder by Misadventure (The Square albert, to 3 February) - supports that argument. It's very much in the Sleuth/Deathtrap mould (though without, it has to be said, the wit of those two plays), with two thriller writing hacks, Paul (Antony Besswick) and Harold (Robert Maxfield), breaking off their partnership with mutual and murderous threats and recriminations. The drunken, working class Paul has something on the suave, wealthy Harold, and blackmails him into changing his mind about hte split. Harold, however, has other ideas, and persuades his wife, Emma (Keeley Harker), to help do him to death. Things, of course, don't run smoothly,, and sure enough, Harold and Emma are soon being intimidated by a grizzled 'tec (Mark Christopher Rose), straight out of Pinter by way of The Sweeney. Donovan Christian-Cary keeps things moving along crisply enough, and the climax of twist and counter-twist is skillfully kept hidden. On the whole, it's no great shakes, but it is rather good fun.

REVIEW - Metro Weekender - 19th January 1996

I'M a fan of the murder-mystery genre when it oozes with black comedy and clever twists.

Alas, this production lacked all the ingredients essential to make an audience sit up and take notice.

Although the Rocket Theatre Company made a brave attempt to thrill, they were way off the mark and the play had all the sparkle of a dead light bulb.

They will seriously have to get their act together in the future if they want to attract theatre-goers.

Admittedly, the cold basement of the Square Albert is not the most ideal of settings for a two-hour, four-hander performance which should have been gripping in its character examination and plot.

The surroundings were, like the performances, drab and dull.

Antony Besswick as the heavy-drinking maverick writer stole what limelight there was with a confident portrayal of Riggs.

But Keeley Harker, who played Emma, the wife of the other writer, was far too hysterical and over the top. She spent most of the time in a make-believe kitchen fixing drinks for the men and carrying out other household chores - not exactly your 90's woman!

The plot revolves around the tried and tested formula of two successful TV writers, one of whom wants to dissolve the partnership. But the other plots murder to stop his counterpart leaving.

I too felt like murdering someone after two-hours watching this nonsense...

LETTER - to the Metro Weekender

I READ with interest your theatre review of Murder by Misadventure at the Square albert (Metro News January 19).

I am not a regular theatre goer, however I went to see this play together with a few friends. We were all in complete agreement that the performance, acting and storyline were superb. I was entertained exceptionally well. The set was adequate - under the circumstances you cannot expect them to produce a set that you may find at a West End Theatre.

Finally, I would have no hesitation in recommending this play to anyone and that includes non-theatre goers like myself who had a great evenings entertainment at a reasonable price.

16th January - 3rd February 1996 - The Square Albert Pub, Manchester. Directed by Donovan Christian-Cary. Cast: Antony Bessick / Keeley Harker / Robert Maxfield / Mark Christopher Rose.