THERE were so many twists and turns in this play I think the audience were almost as mentally tired as Dennis Beasley looked at the end of his marathon performance.

Hats off to Mr Beasley, who rarely faltered, and was only prompted once, during his often quite lengthy speeches.

Stone (Beasley) lures Chief Inspector Hallett (Richard Wharton) and playwright Dee (Julie Innes) to his flat under false pretences.

Hallett, and the audience, totally believe the story he tells.

By the time Dee arrives, we realise things are not exactly as they seem, and the twisting begins.

We are taken in one direction, only to veer off in another, and just when we think we have got things straight in our minds, off they go at a tangent again.

As always, with a Richard Harris play, it is very well written, and the various diversions keeps the audience interested, which is not always the case when there is such a small cast.

Everything that happens is vital to the end plot - such as the seemingly accidentally dropped knife, done so convincingly that I didn't realise it was meant to happen.

The three actors kept the action and dialogue running along, all playing their roles well.

Beasley makes Stone look like a bumbler, but we know his brain is in overdrive.

Wharton is suitably arrogant as the policeman, and Innes portrays the nervous Dee with aplomb.

The set, built by Keith Higgins, Les Laws and various members of the Nonentities, was realistic, and a lot of trouble had been taken with the props.

Congratulations to director Liz Cole for another success.

VJS