By Anita Raymon
Think of a British murder mystery: what comes to mind? There's always a member of the police force asking a lot of questions, especially when his interviewees cannot possibly remember where they were on the day or night in question. Who can sort out the truth from the lies and the red herrings that shift suspicion from one character to another?
What incriminating audience will lead police to the perpetrator? These ingredients and more can be found in the murder mystery, “Murder for the Asking,” written by a Yorkshire playwright, Derek Benfield, who has done it all.
He has acted and written for television as well as bringing his hilarious farces to the West End. In 1954, his farce “Wild Goose Chase” was the forerunner of many such plays.
Benfield's play opens in a genteel, sparsely furnished flat where Henry Scrubb (Richard Weyhausen) and his wife Dora (Mary Lynch) are living. Scrubb appears very nervous, worried, and terribly distracted. There are discarded newspapers around, which he quickly hides under the couch cushions before his wife arrives home from work.
Mrs. Scrubb is weary from the crowded subway trip home. She is now the breadwinner in the Scrubb household since Mr. Scrubb has been unemployed for many months. He looks for work but is unsuccessful. He has answered an intriguing newspaper advertisement, sent it to a box number, and is awaiting a reply. At least that's what he tells his wife.
He persuades Dora to go to the movies, telling her she needs some relaxation. She is reluctant, but Henry is persistent and she finally agrees. Once the front door slams, Scrubb awaits his secret visitor. He has received a reply to his letter, and the gentleman is coming to the flat that evening to interview him. The ad had asked for somebody with no real qualifications even though the person chosen would receive a large reward.
Both Weyhausen and Lynch are consummately thinking actors; the audience immediately is aware of their desperation. There is danger that eviction is in their future. Dora tries to be upbeat but gets more despondent each day. The close attention both actors give to the small gestures, facial expressions and body language show that both are close to the breaking point.
The doorbell rings and Scrubb escorts a dapper, well-dressed gentleman into the living room. The man introduces himself as James Franklyn (George Greenfield) and begins to tell Scrubb about the job when they are interrupted by a loud persistent banging on the flat door.
It is Janet Gregory (Donna Jacobus), the upstairs nosy neighbor. Jacobus has appeared in many successful A la Carte productions. Gregory wants to return some change she owes Dora. Obviously, Dora is not home, but a stranger is in the flat.
The flirty, feisty, man-crazy woman is very interested in him and is surprised to hear from Henry Scrubb that the gentleman is an insurance salesman. She does not accept this explanation – he's too well dressed for an insurance salesman.
Scrubb gets rid of her quickly and the plot continues to thicken. The next morning Henry and Dora are visited by the police. Detective Sergeant Thatcher (Jimmie O'Neill) from the CID has come to ask some questions about their relationship with a certain James Franklyn, who has been found murdered in his study. He asks both Scrubbs about their whereabouts the night before. He tells them he will ask question after question to get to the bottom of this brutal murder.
Dora is so frightened that she gives the detective more information than necessary despite glares from Henry. Naturally, the detective has already visited Ms. Gregory and knows about the insurance man from the previous evening. The detective asks Henry to accompany him to the station house to clear up some of his statements. Especially, what was he doing walking on the common the previous evening?
Two other characters complete the seven member ensemble of Theatre a la Carte. One is Fred Fender (Peter Waiter Vrankovic) a burly man with a muscular build and a terrible temper who visits Dora Scubb at the flat while Henry is at the police station. The other is Rita Franklyn (Karen Schlachter) who visits the Scrubbs to tell them the sad tale of her husband's recent behavior and finding the body on the study floor.
“Murder for the Asking” was directed by John F. Emro in his debut presentation for Theatre a la Carte. He does a great job with a talented group of actors and actresses, backstage managers Lisa C. Oranges and her willing husband Dine and many others. Tire producer was Jagana Martin, a well-known director and producer of many successful shows in Queens.
Performances are Fridays and Saturdays on April 7, 8, 14, and 15 at 8 p.m. and Sundays April 9 and 16 at 3 p.m. Admissions are $12, Seniors $11. On April 9, supper of fish and chips will be served after the performance. Call 631 4092 for more information
