The Business of Murder – Review

March 12, 2015 by Pete Thorn

The Business of Murder – Review

It is easy to see why The Business of Murder by Richard Harris (A Touch of Frost) had a near 9 year run in the West End. 

The play which has a cast of 3 all playing psychological mind games with one another keeps it constantly engaging so many twists and turns you will need to concentrate. As the story unravels you are left wondering whatever will happen next, right up to the conclusion when you really can expect the cliché of the unexpected.

Robert Gwilym, who you may remember from a few years back as Casualty’s heartthrob Dr Max Gallagher gives a brilliant, if not at some times irritating performance as the creepy uptight Mr Stone. Paul Opacic as Hallett (Steve Marchant in Emmerdale, Carl Costello in Hollyoaks and Mark Waddle in Bad Girls), and Joanna Higson as Dee (Maxine Donnelly in Shameless), give strong yet different and convincing performances.

Without giving away the story, Stone a middle-class mouse of a man lures the aggressive bullying cop Hallett and a smart, sexy woman writer of successful TV thrillers called Dee to his bedsit and sets them up for a big and unexpected fall.

To find out his motives you will need to see this cunning murder mystery which may well have you gripping your seat in the final part of the play.

The Business of Murder is currently showing at the Palace Theatre until Saturday 14th March. By Peter Thorn