THE beauty about repertory theatre is that with the same group of actors dipping into each of the six plays over the six weeks, they become familiar and part of the set as much as they do the play they are in.

THE beauty about repertory theatre is that with the same group of actors dipping into each of the six plays over the six weeks, they become familiar and part of the set as much as they do the play they are in.

And you could already feel that in the second installment of Windsor Rep Season with Francis Durbridge’s Sweet Revenge.

The actors seemed at ease with the stage and at ease with their audience. For Sarah Kempton and Alex Fellows-Bennett this was their second go on the Windsor stage.

Sweet Revenge is Durbridge’s final play and often said to the most gripping. While at times the script becomes a little tiresome with the constant re-tracking of what has just happened so the audience can determine what is about to unfold, the cast bought light humour and fondness to their characters as the twists and red herrings unravelled.

The story is set in Dr Ross Marquand’s house in Marlow as guests gather for a regatta. When his wife’s lover dies in his living room all fingers point to the cardiac consultant.

Francis Adams bought a James Herriot type warmth to his portrayal of the doctor who manages to maneuver the story along with each character divulging their woes both medical and confessional in this murder-mystery.

He seemed comfortable in his role – almost has much as Alex Fellows-Bennett who spent the entire time playing a drunk. He had charisma, charma and a great stagger as he bought a light-hearted touch in and a great rapport with Tom Read Wilson whose brilliant casting of Bill Yorke shone.

Sarah Kempton was the nervous but reliable secretary keeping order of all the men in her life and the mystery itself. And playing the role of the French ladies man Julian Kane was Matthew Curnier whose accent throughout was cheeky, enticing and effective.

For a whodunnit this had it all. There were rumbles and gasps as the audience began to realise who had just done it and if a cast and director can successfully achieve that noise from a thriller then they must be doing something right.

There will be familiar faces from this show in next week’s Rep Season offering as James Pellow returns. And with him stepping forward at the end to welcome the audience on this six-week journey and explain how it all works it will be comforting to see how the chain of theatre moves on next week.

REBECCA CURLEY