Brilliant staging of spirited story
The computer game exhibition was popular with all ages After tackling Tom Stoppard’s ‘The Real Inspector Hound’ earlier this year Ardoch Amateur Dramatic Society, directed by Mike Boxer, returned to the stage last month for another murdermystery with a twist.
David Tristram’s ‘Ghost Writer’ was served up at Braco Village Hall where the set arrangement and lighting provided a believable and atmospheric backdrop for this impressively professional production.
Much of the cast doubled up as crew for this haunting comedy whodunnit where a sprinkled Ghost Writer, AADS
ectoplasm of Blithe Spirit helped the audience to engage and be entertained further as the story unfolded.
The female lead, Ruby, was played by an able Rebecca Cranston whose excellent comic timing as a ghost was among the highlights of this production.
The wicked but light touches of dialogue, including her deals in the afterlife, demonstrated how well-written the play was for those unfamiliar with it - and she carried it off exceptionally.
Comic talent was also in the gift of Kenny Hutton who excelled as the camp Alex, while Edward, played by Mike Price, was a suitably engaging widower caught up in the middle.
It is no mean feat to stage what is a different take on the traditional whodunnit - all the suspects gathered in one place, the elements of the ghostly input into reaching that point, the method in which the perpetrator was unmasked, and the play within a play were brilliant, and rightly drew appreciative applause.
As with other recent AADS productions the standard on show did the cast, crew and the play a justice, carried off in a successful cafe-style arrangement for the audience. RHD