Being an occasional viewer of the Father Brown TV series, but watching with an avid fan of the same programme, it was interesting to see the stage show starring John Lyons as G. K. Chesterton's inimitalbe Catholic priest-come-sleuth. Particularly with the play back in its original Edwardian London, rather than the TV series' 1950's Cotswolds.
The story opens in 1906 and the set is clevery divided into three different venues with minimal stage moves, allowing Father Brown's more serious edge to stand clearly.
The plot revolves around five cursed daggers and the murder of their respective owners. Anna Mitcham plays Diana Hope with real competence, delivering a huge number of lines and providing the backbone of the play.
Tony Chester's 'blink or you miss it' cameo has its moments but is at odds with the play at large. At four acts it feels slightly overwritten and long.
This adaptation goes into plenty of depth for fans of the Father Brown books, but may prove slow for those who know the character through TV.
Next week is a local amateur production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels running from Tuesday 4 to Saturday April 8. www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk or the Box Office on 01753 853888
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