REVIEW - Western Daily Press Thursday April 20th 1978  -  DIFFIDENCE LOSES OUT TO CONFIDENCE

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Weston-super-Mare Playhouse: "Towards Zero" by Agatha Christie,

presented by Weston-super-Mare Dramatic Society

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Early in the first act, one of the character's remarks "Something is not quite right."

For a nasty moment I thought it was going to be the play - after a snail's pace start when some of the cast appeared a little diffident.

But happily the action soon quickened when the actors settled down.

The play takes place in the Cornish home of Lady Tressilian, hostess to a motley assortment of holiday house guests.

And as you would expect from Agatha Christie, nothing is quite as it appears on the surface.

The guests are not care-free vacationers.

        Foreboding

And the queen of the thriller writers provides many of the group with motives for committing despicable deeds.

Producer John Butler cleverly builds up the tension, while the marvellously atmospheric set adds to the air of foreboding.

Fine performances come from Joy Wilkinson as the aged hostess, Cameron Elliott as the unhappy Neville Strange, and Robbie Burns as the smooth American rogue Ted Latimer.

Teresinha Morton-Hicks acts with real spirit as Strange's wild wife Kay, while Natalie Booth complements her neatly as his ex-wife. It is a play which would be easy to send up but the society play it straight to great effect.

They will have plenty of chance to "ham" it in October when they present Ben Travers farce "Thark" as their diamond jubilee production.

In the meantime, audiences have until Saturday to see them in a more serious mood.           ANDREW WHITE

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REVIEW - Weston Mercury, Somerset & Avon Herald Friday April 21st 1978  -  ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT'S MURDER

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If one thing is certain in the thriller Towards Zero, it must be that

something nasty is going to happen and it's only a matter of time 

before someone is violently shuffled off this mortal coil.

With great courage and a magnificent setting, John Butler has

achieved an atmosphere of impending doom by deliberately 

understating and slowing down the tempo in the early scenes. 

Characters from the 1920's float in and out from the tennis court,

smoke cigarettes through long holders and sip cocktails before

dinner; conversation is desultory and subdued; outside, the storm

clouds gather. Added to the crepuscular gloom are dark references

to family squabbles, grumbles at the need for the annual house

party and references to an interest in criminology and crime fiction.

If you deduce from these clues that this is vintage Agatha Christie,

you will be on the right track - but don't believe everything

because there are red herrings galore, to, in this capable

production by Weston-super-Mare Dramatic Society at Weston

Playhouse.

The conscious slowing of the pace to draw out the tension is a

clever move and focuses attention on the excellent costumes and

scenic detail. For once, the furniture and the walls really look as

though they were intended for the same room. But sharpness on

lines and cues still needed attention on the first night.

To say more would be to spoil the evening for those who have

yet to see this carefully mannered production. Joy Wilkinson

presides as the hostess, Lady Tressilian, and Anthony Lay gives what I think is his best performance, as the elderly Mathew Treves.

Cameron Elliott plays Neville Strange, whose two wives add to the tension of the party. They are played with contrast by Teresinha Morton-Hicks and Natalie Booth. Roles of the other guests are taken by Simon Siddall and Robbie Burns - both with interests in the family circle - and Shirley McMahon, a companion-secretary, with motives of her own. The heavy feet of the constabulary are represented by Mike Yarde (in an interesting character study), Peter Lightwood and Brian Skidmore.

Concluding performances of Towards Zero are tonight and tomorrow.                                                 R.M.D.