The Classic Thriller Theatre Company’s Rehearsal for Murder poses an exciting prospect. The play follows playwright Alex Dennison, who investigates the suspected suicide of his fiancée, the famous actress Monica Welles. Dennison is convinced that all is not what it seems, and apparently taking inspiration from Hamlet he stages a mousetrap, luring those he suspects to an empty theatre for a reading of his new play. The production does what it says on the tin – it’s a fun murder-mystery which keeps the audience guessing.

The man leading the cast was Robert Daws, who played Dennison. Daws was a fantastic actor who dominated every scene, easily holding the audience’s attention throughout lengthy monologues. He had a relaxed charm that fit the light-hearted and sometimes humorous nature of the play, but he possessed the emotional depth and subtlety required by a complex role. Dennison was, after all, haunted by guilt and grief. We saw Daws shift effortlessly from joviality to excitement to grief to anger, often conveying several emotions at once, and grasping the audience’s empathy with both hands.

Amy Robbins and Lucy Dixon were other notable names in a strong and competent cast. Each character was intriguing in their own way – the audience weren’t sure what to make of them. The set was a perfect re-enactment of a disused stage, which adapted to fit each scene and provided a sense of glamour whilst retaining a sense of something empty and abandoned.

The production was slick and fluid, evoking plenty of laughter from the audience. It was above all lively and fun, keeping the audience engaged. However, this came at a cost; there was no real tension. I wanted to be on the edge of my seat, utterly gripped and gasping in shock, but any sinister or dark aspects of the play were overshadowed in this production. There was no real climax, no moment of horror. When a conclusion did emerge, the atmosphere was one of triumph and satisfaction rather than anything more revelatory. In a sense, the script itself was at fault; the plotline felt slightly ridiculous, with the edge of a comedy rather than a thriller.

So if you’re looking for a gripping mystery play, then this production did not deliver. Yet, the evening was still undeniably enjoyable. At the heart of the play for me was the relationship between the lovers, Dennison and Welles, and the emotional impact of Welles’s death. From the opening, the audience were placed into the role of ethereal spectator, as Dennison addressed the apparently empty theatre. We later couldn’t help but draw parallels between Welles and ourselves; Welles was present throughout the play, and the final image of Dennison, deflated in an armchair with the spectre of Welles behind him, ended the play on a haunting note. It was a play that was perhaps more suited as an exploration of the effect of death and loss, than a murder mystery.

Rehearsal for Murder is showing at the Cambridge Arts Theatre at 7:45pm from Monday 7th March-Saturday 12th March