For their traditional autumn half-term slot at Tipton St John Community Hall TIPPS presented the Francis Durbridge murder mystery Suddenly at Home, directed by Kyle Hayes.

When Glenn Howard decides to 'bump off' his wealthy wife he engineers a complicated but seemingly foolproof plan which would keep himself in the clear while implicating his wife’s former lover Sam Blaine, but as they often say, 'the best laid plans'!

The action took place in the living room of the Howard’s flat in the early 1970s and the curtains opened to an attractively designed and suitably dressed set, receiving a well-deserved round of applause.

Glenn’s wife Maggie and her sister Helen are waiting for her actress friend Sheila who has got tickets for a play, but when Sheila finally arrives she comes up with a story about her father being ill and having to go to Eastbourne. The plot thickens later that evening when Sheila returns to the flat and it becomes obvious that she and Glenn are having an affair! With the housekeeper supposedly out of the way for a few days Glenn does the deed and with Sheila’s help disposes of the body. Dun dun dun!

Emillie Poultney gave a confident performance as Maggie, as did Sue Hulley in the role of Ruth the duplicitous housekeeper. Ken Mylne gave it his best shot, and was hardly ever off stage, as the conniving two-timing Glenn, and Mo Mylne, in a range of eye-catching outfits, grew increasingly edgy as the plot fell apart. Mark Reader as always was dependable and endearing as thriller writer Sam who rumbled their plan, and Claire Martin drove the action along as Helen, coping excellently with her irascible husband Alec always on the end of the telephone! Brian Rice made a solid Detective Appleton, and Denise Wightman a convincing deceptive detective brought in by Sam to muddy the waters. Lighting and sound were in the capable hands of Paul Kinson. The cast did well with a rather convoluted and ponderous piece which certainly kept the last night audience on its toes but was very warmly received.