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The House By the Lake, P&P Productions, Lighthouse Studio, Poole

TAKE a well-written script, a company whose reputation is second to none, fine direction and some of the best acting talent around and you have all the ingredients for a first-class production - in which, as ever, P&P came up trumps.

This psychological thriller by Hugh Mills, here directed by Pat Donovan, takes place during winter at the home of struck-off hypnotherapist Dr Maurice Holt, a rather evil, sinister type played with all the necessary venom by Don Gent. He and his spinster sister, Stella (Shirley Kennard), seem to have an un-naturally close relationship that by-and-large excludes his manic-depressive wife, Janet. In this role Veronica Ryder excelled, convincingly displaying every emotion from terror, despair and needy dependency to champagne-induced elation.

Maurice and Stella plot to kill their step-brother, Colin (an excellent James McQuillan), and take all the necessary steps to do so. However, Colin’s long-suffering wife, Iris, brilliantly and movingly played by Yvette Leahy, has her own agenda – and the ice on the lake that separates the two homes is beginning to thaw…

A realistic set and props and superb lighting and sound effects helped too, ensuring that this production was totally gripping from start to finish.

Linda Kirkman

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