This was my first visit to CADS, and it was a pleasure to see the company engaging in BFAME and our Peripatetic Competition. Thank you for making me feel so welcome!

The production takes place in a local community centre, but if that makes anyone hesitate about booking a ticket, please don’t let it put you off. The venue is a really good setup for amateur theatre, with parking (always a bonus!), a good stage, lighting and sound facilities, and a welcoming front-of-house area complete with a bar and raffle. Everything you need for an enjoyable evening at the theatre is there, and it is great to see a local company making such good use of its facilities.

So what’s the show about?

Following the death of Septimus Tomb, the eccentric members of the Tomb family gather at their ancestral home, Monument House, for the reading of his will. When they discover that a stranger is to inherit a substantial part of the fortune, tensions rise and the family’s darker side begins to emerge. With suspicious characters, hidden secrets, concealed doors and a generous helping of dark humour, this is no ordinary family gathering. It soon becomes clear that nobody is quite as innocent as they first appear!

Setting the Scene

The evening opened with the howling of a man in distress, and what a way to begin! It was a wonderfully effective touch that immediately established the atmosphere and drew us into the strange and unsettling world of the Tomb family. There was clearly a lot of thought put into setting the scene, and that attention to detail continued throughout the production.

The stage was well thought out, nicely dressed and, importantly, functional. The hidden doors were so well concealed that I’m not entirely sure I would have been able to find them again myself! I particularly enjoyed the little touches, such as the dead flowers in the vase, which helped suggest a once-grand house that had seen better days.

The high-backed red chair was another excellent feature, proving useful for hiding characters and even providing opportunities for costume changes. It is often these practical details that help a set become more than simply a background, and there was plenty here to appreciate.

One other point deserves recognition: the cast delivered their lines throughout without the need for prompts. That demonstrates preparation, commitment and a good deal of rehearsal time, and the company should be congratulated for it.

Right Then, On to the Cast…

Marcus Tomb – Dave Hogan

Dave brought a lovely sense of theatricality to Marcus Tomb, embracing the character’s Shakespearean-inspired manner with great enthusiasm. The robes completed the look perfectly, while his expressive use of his hands added an extra flourish to the performance. There was something wonderfully grand about his approach, which suited Marcus’s larger-than-life personality and gave the character a distinctive presence.

Monica Tomb – Jamie Cross

Jamie looked the part beautifully in her Marilyn Monroe-style red dress, which perfectly complemented Monica’s flirtatious personality. Her delivery was confident, and she brought a lovely sense of fun to the role. I particularly enjoyed the way she pursued Perry, adding some entertaining physical comedy to their interactions. Jamie clearly understood the character’s appeal and made the most of Monica’s larger-than-life nature.

Oliver Tomb – Cameron

We may not have seen a great deal of Cameron on stage, but by goodness, we certainly heard him! His loud howls and whimpers did a wonderful job of creating Oliver’s presence, adding to the atmosphere of mystery and distress surrounding the household. The opening howls were particularly effective in setting the scene for the evening. Great job, Cameron! Having made such an impression from offstage, perhaps we can look forward to seeing a little more of you on stage next time!

Lucien Tomb – Wayne Simpson

Lucien is certainly a larger-than-life character, and Wayne threw himself into the role with enthusiasm. The character spends a fair amount of time moaning and complaining about one thing or another, hard work for an actor. But Wayne certainly threw himself into the character, and he even managed to keep his head on straight, well, at least until we discovered what was coming out of the box! A little theatrical joke there, but one the story certainly gives us the opportunity to enjoy.

Emily Tomb – Niamh Smith

I really enjoyed Niamh’s performance as Emily. She made excellent use of the stage, moving with confidence and giving the character a strong physical presence. There was a sense of purpose to her movement, which helped her command attention and made her a pleasure to watch. A confident and assured performance from Niamh, and one of the highlights for me.

Dora Tomb – Karen Astbury

One thing is for sure: I’d think twice before accepting anything to eat or drink from Dora! Karen clearly enjoyed the role and embodied the character beautifully, bringing just the right amount of eccentricity to this rather suspicious member of the Tomb household. Her delivery was well paced, with good timing on her lines, helping the humour land effectively. Another enjoyable performance, and one that certainly left me wary of what might be lurking in Dora’s next offering!

Nurse Anne Franklin – Tammy Stevenson

Tammy was another highlight of the evening for me, delivering an excellent performance that showcased a lovely range of emotions and a confident grasp of the character. This is a role that requires careful development as the story unfolds, with Anne revealing different sides of herself as events take their course. Tammy handled that progression particularly well, allowing the character to evolve naturally rather than giving everything away too soon. Her lines were delivered with clarity and a real sense of purpose, while her reactions helped bring depth to the scenes around her. A strong, engaging performance that stood out for all the right reasons.

Hamilton Penworthy – Rylie Corry

I was rather sad to see Rylie go, so to speak! He brought genuine authority to Hamilton Penworthy, commanding attention whenever he stepped on stage. His lines were delivered with confidence, and he had a good grasp of what I suspect was a considerable amount of dialogue to learn. He gave the family solicitor a reassuring sense of presence, helping to anchor the action amid the eccentricities and chaos of the Tomb household. Well done, Rylie, a very assured performance!

Agatha Hammond – Hayley Tibbs

Nice work here from Hayley, who made Agatha her own and brought a natural quality to the role. I particularly enjoyed the use of the knives, which provided some wonderfully dark comic moments and certainly caught the audience’s attention! The reactions they prompted added to the fun, and Hayley handled these moments in a way that helped the humour land. A characterful performance that contributed nicely to the play’s more sinister, yet decidedly amusing, side.

Freda Mountjoy – Lauren Payne

Ah, Lauren, nice work here! She brought a pleasing confidence to Freda, with good pace and well-judged timing throughout. Her delivery helped keep the scenes moving, allowing the humour to come through without feeling forced. A solid contribution to the company and an enjoyable performance.

Peregrine (Perry) Potter – Louis Elsmore

Louis was a real highlight for me. His wonderfully squeaky voice gave Perry an instantly recognisable character, and his interactions with Monica were a joy to watch. He delivered a lovely comic performance, making excellent use of physical expression and the opportunities for humour within the role. There was a real sense of energy to his work, with well-judged pace and timing that helped the comedy land. Louis showed plenty of potential, and I would certainly be keen to see him take on more roles like this. A thoroughly entertaining performance!

Direction – Megan Payne and Saskia Simone

Directing a play such as A Tomb With a View is no small undertaking. With a large ensemble, numerous entrances and exits, hidden doors, costume changes and a mystery that depends on both atmosphere and comic timing, there is plenty to coordinate.

Megan Payne and Saskia Simone clearly gave considerable thought to the staging, particularly the way the set was used to support the action. The opening howls were a particularly effective directorial choice, immediately establishing the mood, while the concealed doors and use of the furniture provided some lovely theatrical opportunities.

Dark comedy and murder mystery both rely on timing. A pause held for just the right length, a sharp reaction, or an entrance delivered at precisely the right moment can make all the difference between a joke that passes by and one that doesn’t. Megan and Saskia clearly understood this balance, and the result was a production filled with effective and memorable comic moments.

The production had a clear sense of what it was and what the directors were trying to achieve. If this production is anything to go by, I look forward to seeing what they tackle next.

So Then…

CADS gave us an evening of eccentric characters, dark humour and theatrical surprises, with plenty of memorable moments. Several performances stood out for me, particularly those of Niamh Smith, Tammy Stevenson and Louis Elsmore, though I’m sure other audience members will have had their own favourites.

There were also some lovely individual touches from the company, and it was encouraging to see the cast so well prepared and on their game.

With clear enthusiasm for the play, and a company willing to take on a sizeable cast of wonderfully peculiar characters, I can only congratulate everyone involved in the production.

Local amateur theatre depends on groups such as CADS continuing to put productions on stage, learning with each show and sharing their enjoyment of live performance with audiences. There is plenty here to celebrate.

Congratulations to CADS for bringing the Tomb family to life and for reminding us that, when it comes to family inheritances, it is probably wise to keep an eye on the will, the doors and definitely the refreshments!

Now back to my drink and a letter to the Government…

Reviewed by – David T.