And Evermore Shall Be So

And Evermore Shall Be So
By Norman Robbins. Directed by Anita Bound. KADS. Town Square Theatre, Kalamunda, WA. July 19 - August 10, 2013.

Director Anita Bound states that And Evermore Shall Be So will be her directorial swansong and while I am loathe to see her go, this nicely directed little murder mystery makes a lovely artistic curtain call.

Based loosely around the folk tune Green Grow the Rushes O, as the play opens we hear this song, beautifully pre-recorded by Manaui Long and Eden Sambridge. This is an ongoing theme and we continue to hear snippets throughout the play until sung (albeit not quite as prettily) by the cast in their curtain call.

Anita says in the program that she chose this Norman Robbins play partly because of its resemblance to Midsomer Murders and it is certainly reminiscent of this style, with a tad more humour. While I am reluctant to reveal any of the plot, I can say that almost every character is a suspect and the plot has twists within the twists.

Justin Stevens played the Reverend Edwin Summerfield in a portrayal that was likeable, with a character not all he seems. His thoroughly charming young wife Lydia was beautifully played by Teresa Charles in what to my memory might be her biggest role to date (she is usually found clad in black, elsewhere in the theatre). The couple invites her writer cousin to stay, in order to potentially investigate a local murder mystery, and events are set in motion.

John Bevan played outsider Brandon Walsh and delivered a convincing performance despite struggling with the copious amounts of exposition demanded in this role.

Villagers included Sarah Sambridge nicely playing former actress Helen Lilywhite, Gary Welch making a promising debut performance in the small but pivotal role of David Lilywhite and Sue Welborne relishing the part of nasty Gwendolyn Cranshawe. John Pomfret played amiable but suspicious gardener Roy Steadman while Keith Scrivens was good as local pub chef Maurice Walker. Providing much of the comic relief were Kerry Goode and Sandra Sando as local gossips Ida Cornish and Sheila Pashley. These two worked beautifully together and the audience really enjoyed every appearance.

The rambling Victorian vicarage's living room was gorgeously designed by Dion Callanan and exquisitely dressed. On opening night, light and sound cues (especially the door bell) were a little hit and miss, and this created a couple of awkward moments and some unintended humour, but I am sure that this will improve during the run.

Anita Bound and her team should be proud of this pleasant little play, which I hope will not really be Anita's last.

Kimberley Shaw

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