Silhouette

Silhouette
By Simon Brett. Directed by Fred Petersen. Garrick Theatre, Guildford, WA. Nov 18 - Dec 5, 2015

The Australian premiere of Silhouette, a thriller by Simon Brett, is to be Fred Petersen's swan-song as a director and this well-structured, well-performed play makes a good farewell piece.

Interestingly structured, with t Act II set chronologically immediately before Act I, the events of the murder at the centre of the play are gradually revealed.

Major players are the newly widowed actress Celia Wallis, played with broad-stroke precision by Anna Head, the seemingly humourless, efficient Detective Inspector Bruton, played by Rhett Clarke in a carefully measured performance and awkward local journalist Neville Smallwood, nicely played by Pearce McGrogan. Nice support comes from Amber Moore as WPC Leach and Terry Brown as Detective Sergeant Fisher.

In Act II we meet the "dead body", Martin Powell, a thoroughly dislikable self-centred actor, excellently played by David McGarr. Rounding out the cast are Alison Burke and Tania Clohessy, both making stage debuts.

Geoff Holt's sound and lighting design allows for key moments of the plot, including the silhouette of the title, to play out, while director Fred Petersen's set design feels like an English South Coast barn conversion.

There was much "whodunnit" conversation at interval. This show certainly had the audience interested and hooked and the revelation clearly comes as a surprise. Au Revoir director Fred Petersen - you have departed in good form.

Kimberley Shaw

Images: Detective-Sergeant Fisher (Terry Brown) tries to get an autograph from actress Celia Wallis (Anna Head) and Pearce McGrogan, left, is Neville Smallwood and Anna Head is Celia Wallis in the mystery thriller Silhouette at Garrick Theatre.

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