Reporter: Colin Meredith
Date online: 12/06/2008

St Ann’s Players latest production I’ll be back before Midnight by Peter Colley proved to be an edge of the seat thriller that kept the large audience guessing throughout.

The play starts with Greg taking his wife Jan to an isolated farmhouse ostensibly to complete her recovery. But unsettling things start to happen as soon as they arrive. First, Greg's sister Laura, with whom he seems to have an unnaturally close relationship, arrives. There is also George the slightly demented old farmer who lives nearby.

A nightmare of frightening occurrences results in a thrilling and heart-stopping production by all concerned. Andy McKay directs a superb cast with great precision. Dave Stopford is excellent as Greg and Sue Howarth is also first rate as Jan, who has to stagger from one hysterical outburst to another as the tension rises. Joanne Frost does not disappoint as Greg’s manipulative sister and Ian Mansfield as George, their garrulous landlord, supplies the much appreciated laughs.

The play, although a tense thriller, has many moments of comedy which help relieve the tension and add to the enjoyment. One minute the audience is laughing out loud and the next it is gasping at moments of shock-horror as the plot unfolds.

The audience left the hall buzzing with excitement having been on a roller coaster ride.

I’ll be back before Midnight by Peter Colley
St Ann's Players
Parish Hall, Brocklebank Road, Rochdale
Saturday 18 November 2006