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CONFUSED? If you brain hurts, click here to return to the SOAP page for The Play That Goes Wrong To address some recent confusion, we want t0 remind you that The Murder at Haversham Manor IS The Play That Goes Wrong These are the same show - SOAP actors are playing members of the Cornley Drama Society!! What' the Story?
It is winter of 1922, on the evening of the engagement party between Charles Haversham and Florence Colleymore. A few hours into the party, Thomas Colleymore - Florence's brother, and Perkins - Charles' butler, head to the lounge to check on the groom to-be, only to find him dead by unknown causes. After debating with Perkins whether the death was from murder or from suicide, Thomas calls Inspector Carter, and then orders Perkins to lock all the doors and send all of the manor's occupants to the lounge. With everyone assembled (aside from Arthur, the manor's gardener, who left hours prior with Winston, his guard dog), Cecil brings up the possibility of suicide, and notes Charles's last entry in his journal expressing paranoia that Florence did not love him. Moments later, Inspector Carter arrives. He orders Perkins and Thomas to bring the body to Charles's study for an initial inspection, leaving Cecil and Florence alone in the lounge. As the inspector finds a note in Charles's coat pocket, Cecil assures Florence (who's worried that their affair will make them suspects for Charles' murder) that they can continue on as though nothing happened, eventually convincing her to marry him one day. She then asks him who he thinks killed Charles, to which he brings up the possibility of Thomas killing Charles, out of fear of losing his sister to this marriage. No sooner does Cecil bring this up, however, that Inspector Carter announces he is ready to begin individual interviews with each of the manor's occupants. The story continues, full of twists and turns, as Inspector Carter works to bring to justice all those responsible for this terrible evening at Haversham Manor! Director's Notes
We are particularly excited to present this play, because for the first time in the society's history, we have found a play that matches the number of society members perfectly. If we're honest, a lack of members has hampered some of our past productions such as last year's Checkov play, Two Sisters; last Christmas' The Lion and the Wardrobe, or indeed our summer musical, Cat. With help from our many sponsors, we can put on this great production without the usual budget constraints that hampered some previous productions such as our presentation of James and the Peach. Of course, the peach we were using in that show eventually went off and we had to hastily devise an alternative show entitled James, Where Is Your Peach? So we're happy that is all behind us now. We trust you will fully enjoy our production of The Murder at Haversham Manor as much as we enjoyed rehearsing it for you! - Chris Bean, Director |
Cast and Characters
Cornley Drama Society Members, In Order of (self-)Importance: 
Chris Bean is the director - never merely a director - of the Drama Society. He takes every show he is in very seriously and is angered when the audience think that a show he is performing in is a pantomime and not a serious production. The founder member, he also considers himself the best actor in the troop – frequently casting himself in the lead role - and longs to be above such amateur productions. Chris plays INSPECTOR CARTER, an esteemed local detective.
Robert Grove frequently clashes with Chris over who should get the main part. He even wrote a book, Anything You Can Act, I Can Act Louder, in an attempt to convince the rest of the cast that he is the best actor in the company. Robert plays a lead role THOMAS COLLEYMORE, Charles' old school friend.
Sandra Wilkinson is possibly the most vain member of the cast, and certainly the most flirtatious. She is used to being the female lead in every play and will frequently pose during scenes to get attention. In early productions she was in a relationship with Jonathan, unaware that Max was in love with her. Tonight, Sandra plays FLORENCE COLLEYMORE, Charles' fiancée and Thomas' sister.
Max Bennett appears to enjoy being on stage the most and will frequently stop what he is doing to smile and wave at the audience – even if he is playing a corpse. However, as Chris comes from a wealthy family that supports the Drama Society financially, Chris is willing to put up with these lapses while still usually casting him in minor roles. As well as enjoying being on stage, Max is madly in love with Sandra. Tonight, Max plays CECIL HAVERSHAM, Charles' brother, and later, ARTHUR, the Gardener.
Dennis Tyde never wanted to be an actor, but joined the cast because no other club at Cornley Polytechnic would accept him. Nervous, he is completely unable to remember his lines but always remembers other people's. Thus, if in a scene he dries up and does not know what to say next, if prompted with his line he will respond with the line of the person he is conversing with. This often results in several lines being spoken by the wrong character. Dennis plays PERKINS, Charles' butler.
Jonathan Harris, Another actor who is often cast as the young lead and is egotistical, particularly looking down on Max and Dennis. He was in a passionate relationship with Sandra until she caught him kissing Annie on stage in the middle of a production. Since then he has had more of a minor role. He frequently struggles with props on stage, especially finding it difficult to open doors. Johnathan has found his spot portraying CHARLES HAVERSHAM, the deceased.
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We would also like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of:
Annie Twilloil is the stage manager. In many ways Annie is the Drama Society's backbone. Quiet and unassuming, though fond of elaborate hand gestures, she is willing to take on any role as and when required. Not only in the cast but also backstage, for example being the company's often-needed first aider. She is highly supportive of the others, particularly taking Dennis under her wing. She is the least likely to cause chaos and confusion, but is often the victim of the others' incompetence.
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Trevor Watson is the technical director who joined the Drama Society because he was studying electronics and needed credit on lighting and sound. When problems arise with the set, Trevor appears and rushes bull-headed into a way of fixing the immediate problem, even if it subsequently causes more problems as a result. As performances by the production often result in actors becoming incapacitated, he has been known to stand in for the actual cast, flatly reading lines from a script.
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... and all our other backstage crew members!