Suspect

by Edward Percy and Reginald Denham

14th – 15th March 1950

A newspaper magnate staying in Cornwall believes that he has met his landlady before. Remembering that as a junior reporter he had covered a murder trial in Scotland which had ended with a not proven verdict, he sets out to find out what really happened.

The Cast

Mrs Smith: Edith Hill
Goudie Macintyre: Peggy Simmons
Dr Rendle: H J Johns
Janet Rendle: Janet Pearse
Robert Smith: Peter Monger
Rev. Alfred Combermere: Ernest Golby
Lady Const: Isa Dolan
Sir Hugo Const: A Walton

Produced by Mr H J Johns

Newbury Weekly News review

Compton Players in village hall drama

The Compton Players presented Suspect by Edward Percy and Reginald Denham in the Village Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday last week. The suspense of the drama was well built up by a cast of characters who were individually appropriate and showed good team work. The intensely emotional part of Mrs Smith, a woman who many years before had been accused of a particularly brutal murder, was splendidly played by Edith Hill.

Her old Scottish servant was convincingly played by Peggy Simmons, not an easy feat for a young player. As Sir Hugo Const, a newspaper magnate who was the means of reviving the crime, A Walton carried the part with experienced ease. One of the most pleasing features was the acting of Janet Pearse and Peter Monger in the parts of the two young people whose impending marriage was nearly ruined by the revelation of the crime. A refreshing air of poise was introduced by Lady Const, suavely played by Isa Dolan. A lighter touch was brought by Ernest Golby in the part of the Rev. Alfred Combermere. The play was produced by H J Johns, who played the part of Dr Philip Rendle.