Thriller
TARITHA. By Arnold Ridley and Mary Cathcart Borer. (Duchess.) MYSTERY plays tend to be of two kinds : the sensational and the domestic. In the one lights switch feverishly from compartment to com- partment of a multiple set, and the rattle of
sub-machine gun fire is rarely silent. In the other a baronial library with a body in the centre of it and a lot of old English characters suspected of murder are the essential ingredi- ents. The curious thing about Tabitha (and the reason for its low tension) is that it falls into neither of these categories. A group of old ladies living in decayed gentility in the house of a beastly, sadistic woman are even- tually driven by the poisoning of a dearly loved cat to plot their tormentor's murder. However, two of them repent their decision and remove the poisoned whisky from the locked cupboard to which their landlady might confidently be expected to possess a key, being very surprised when she is nevertheless dis- covered dead. The story goes on from there and is not without ingenuity. Marjorie Fielding makes an excellent job of old Mrs. Prendergast, the colonel's lady, and is well backed up by Janet Barrow and Christine Silver as the other two old dears, and by Gillian Lind as the revolting Mrs. Trellington. Philip Stainton provides a choleric detective. The whole thing is pleasant, amusing and rather slow. If it runs, it will be due to Miss Fielding.
Previous page
