The Beast's Pen

Okay, so this madcap comedy has already had a good run at Trafalgar Studios, but it’s a lot cheaper seeing it here. The title says it all – a creaking murder mystery is performed by an amateur company and everything that can possibly go wrong goes spectacularly wrong. Michael Frayn’s “Noises Off” covered similar territory, but this is better for being briefer and more condensed. The performances are all brilliant, but what strikes home most is the tremendous skill needed to ensure that it all goes right so as to seem to be going wrong. Sidesplittingly funny!