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24 July 2026
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4****
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When the title of a play is also the name of a character who you never meet in person, it can be so interesting to build of picture of them in your minds’ eye, created by what the other characters say about them. Think ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne du Maurier – with which, incidentally, this play has certain other parallels. When a thriller has a cast of only four, the plotting has to be carefully executed to ensure the audience is kept on the edge throughout.
‘The Late Edwina Black’ was first performed in 1949 but set in 1895 and is very much from the Victorian Melodrama stable and it is immensely effective. The atmosphere is well created from the start – dark panelling is replaced with black drapes to provide the claustrophobic room, cluttered with well chosen dark furniture. With good, dim lighting, and appropriate costumes, you know exactly what genre you are watching.
The development of the plot builds well and though there is a little overwriting in the second half, the tension grows nicely and the audience is drawn into a fun guessing game. Yes, as mentioned, this is melodrama and the cast throw themselves into it. Tobias Deacon is extremely impressive as the widower dealing with the aftermath of his wife’s death and looking ahead to a new life. Victoria Porter as Edwina’s companion, does angst extremely well and, as the plot thickens, these two leads spark very well off each other. Andrew Fettes relishes his role as Henry Martin – is he a detective, or is there more to him than meets the eye? – a wonderful, magician-like, performance. But it isn’t all doom and gloom, Nickie Johnson as the devoted housekeeper – shades of Mrs Danvers? – delivers some wonderful lines with a comic bluntness – joyful!
I wasn’t sure about the use of Mendelssohn’s ‘Fingal’s Cave’ to punctuate the scenes, but underscoring the action is an effective device, especially in something so full of atmosphere.
Director, Vernon Thompson, ensures the action zips along and that the tension continually grows and subsides throughout, while building a very effective climax. He also allows the cast to push the limits of their art without going too far.
It is a delight to be asked to return to the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis to review the 2026 repertory season from Gilroy Theatre and with ‘The Late Edwina Black’ the summer is off to a flying start.
Cast
Ellen – Nickie Johnson
Elizabeth Graham – Victoria Porter
Henry Martin – Andrew Fettes
Gregory Black – Tobias Deacon
Creatives
Writer – William Dinner & William Morum
Director – Vernon Thompson
Lighting and Sound Design – Steve Miller
Set Design – Robert Sherwood
Stage Management – Tom Neill & Eddie Comerford
Production Assistant – Gary Fish
Costume Assistant – Grace Dudzicki
Photo Image – Noah Sentance
