REVIEW – Sleuth at Bromsgrove’s Artrix is funny and sinister in equal measure

ARTRIX’S Studio was a wonderful choice for Sleuth – written by Anthony Shaffer and staged by All and Sundry.

The intimate venue where the audience are close to the action made this this ‘cat and mouse’ story even more intense.

The play has just two main characters – a crime writer and his wife’s lover who he has invited round to his house ‘for a chat’.

Andrew Wyke – the author – hosts Milo Tindle at his Wiltshire mansion for the ‘light-hearted discussion’ with the premise of ‘getting her off his hands after a long and arduous marriage’. But the scheme must, according to Wyke, suit everyone involved and it quickly goes from the friendly to the sinister.

The first half is, in effect a two-hander, with the second act seeing the arrival of Inspector Doppler who is investigating what went on at the mansion, following reports of a disturbance and gunshots and a disappearance of one of the characters. But all is not as it seems with twists and turns following in the build up to the crescendo of a conclusion.

Both Matt Lulam as Wyke and Paul Brienza as Tindle were brilliant throughout.

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Lulam perfectly portrayed the highly confident – to the point of arrogant – murder mystery writer. He eloquently delivered some fantastically crafted one-liners and observation on married life and other societal situations. He strutted about the stage (his study / gallery) with that kind of entitlement you frequently see of rich owners of country homes, looking down on those they consider inferior to themselves. He attempts to use his wife’s lover as his own plaything who he can inflict his power and social standing on, via ‘his little parlour games’. Lulam is Tim Vine-esque as goes through the plan which brings bucket-loads of comedy.

Brienza also pitches it right in the way he plays the optimistic, idealistic and romantic Tindle. Because of the portrayal, you find yourself rooting for him as he explains why he believes he is the right man to give Marguerite the life she deserves. He is confident about his vision for the pair of them, even as Wyke is using his imagination, creativity and persuasive skills to get him to agree to the plot. He too makes his own observations – about crime fiction and role stereotypes.

Using Wyke’s tennis analogy, both end up as Jekyll and Hyde characters as the ‘advantage’ in the point-scoring swings their way. The pair, the situation they are in and moral dilemmas they pose also have you switching allegiance between the two – again this is testament to the actors and the way they play the roles.

I won’t give away too much about the ‘mystery guest’ who plays Inspector Doppler as to do so would spoil the surprise. But, the person playing him knows who he is and, what I will say, is he showed plenty of acting versatility, also switching from the comic to the sinister.

The set was simple – the same room for both acts. But with plenty of props (including some slapstick special effects), furniture and a window key to the story, it was functional and effective.

As well as the actors, director Mike Richardson and the backstage team also deserve plenty of plaudits for this production which provides plenty of comedy, some laugh-out-loud moments and a splash of thought-provoking theatre as well as you try and guess where the storyline will go next.

The final performance of Sleuth takes place at 7.30pm tomorrow. Click here for times, tickets and more information.