Ray Martin, a television actor famed for playing TV’s Inspector Brady, is invited to open the village fete and soon finds himself at the centre of a real-life mystery. The festivities turn deadly in the produce tent, with ambitions, infidelities, and petty rivalries (“marrow envy”) providing plenty of motives. When a not-so-popular figure is murdered, Ray—far from his scriptwriters—must play detective for real, navigating a cast of eccentric villagers in a race to unmask the culprit.
NODA Review
Date
17th April 2026
- Society
- Skipton Players
- Venue
- Skipton Little Theatre
- Type of Production
- Play
- Director
- Jacqui Whiteley
- Written By
- Richard James
A sell out audience was thoroughly entertained by Skipton Player’s latest offering. A Fete Worse than Death by Richard James is a skit on village politics, set in a marquee at the plant and produce show. Instead of being a happy family day out, the Village Show is ruined when the newly elected chair of the fete committee meets an untimely end. As ‘fete’ would have it, the celebrity guest who has been invited to open the event is a well-known TV detective. Actor turns investigator to solve the murder with the help of Miss Parmenter, spinster of the parish. An Agatha Christie style solution brings the show to an amusing end.
Jacqui Whitely directed the play with care, accommodating seven actors comfortably in this very small space. Props in this production were particularly impressive, and clearly someone is a dab hand with a crochet hook. The Viking helmet was especially striking, as were two giant sized marrows, oversized onions and a kilo of crocheted carrots.
The part of doomed Malcolm was played by Paul Jennings. He was suitably self-satisfied as Chair and champion marrow grower. One sympathised completely with Bunny (Lydia Jones) as Malcolm was probably the most boring man alive. No wonder Bunny found her thoughts turning elsewhere. Lydia gave a good performance as the dutiful wife, but I was never fully convinced of the chemistry which had driven her into the arms of History enthusiast Nigel, played by Will Borrows. Trish the fete organiser was played briskly by Maxine Caddell and Father Mike, the vicar by Derek Blackwell.
The detective duo Miss Parmenter and Ray Martin were played most convincingly by Sue Hartley and Bruce Woodhouse. Sue kept us amused throughout with her blunt northern humour and the constant misunderstandings about the real Ray Martin and his TV alter ego. Bruce was convincing as the jaded actor, interested only in his fee. It was good to see his interest finally being piqued by solving a real-life murder. The denouement was very well played by these two characters.
The audience loved the humour and the play length was perfect for an evening of light hearted comedy. Clearly Skipton Players are getting the recipe right because they have a very strong local following. A full programme of Players productions and visiting events is planned for the future at Skipton Little Theatre. Thank you to the committee for inviting me.
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