The Business Of Murder is a tricky one as I kind of feel that the less you know about it the better.
Stone, a humourless and dour man, invites Dee, a television playwright, over to his flat on the premise of discussing a script. Once there, she is surprised when superintendent Hallett, the man with whom she is having an affair, also arrives for an entirely different reason.
But nothing is as it seems, and as the plot twists and turns the motive of their host Stone gradually becomes clear. They are all, it would seem, in the same business…the Business of Murder.
That’s the official blurb, so no harm in reading that and getting a jist of what the play is about. Sporting a strong 3 person cast, a cast that includes actors that make you say “what do i know them from” but between them they have appeared on Casualty, Emmerdale, hollyoaks, Bad Girls, Shameless and WPC56. The play comes from a 9 year run at the west end and is penned by Richard harris of The Sweeney, A Touch Of Frost,The Avengers. So you’re in good hand all round.
The play has a great pace and unfolds bit by bit, only really revealing it’s full hand at the end. It’s structured as a meta-look at murder and it’s relationship with the police, press, the media and the victims. Twisting, turning and analysing how the different sections deal with murder and all it’s trappings Come half time and I was scratching my head to know what way the play was headed, it really was that good at keeping you guessing. All actors turn in sterling performances, and set design and direction have to be commended also. This is a play for whodunnit fans who want something a little bit out of the ordinary, just go in with an open mind and see if you can work who done it before the end, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised how wrong you will be!
The Business Of Murder is on now at the Grand Opera House and runs until Sat 20th June.
