Page 238 of The Silent Appeal

11:03 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

Everything except her burner phone and that tacky bracelet Issy gave her.

11:03 a.m. Kevin wrote:

Shit.

Article from the Lockwood Gazette online dated June 6, 2025:

FAIRWAY PLAYERS LATEST FAR FROM HOLLOW

Agatha Christie’s lesser-known play The Hollow is a dark, twisting mystery centered around a fallen aristocratic family, the Angkatells. Mourning the loss of their ancestral home and obliged to marry cousins to keep remaining properties in the family, there are love triangles, squares, and spirals aplenty!

In a large cast, Francesca Elroy-Jones shone in the role of Lady Angkatell. The eccentric, OTT matriarch was a whirlwind of energy and chaos, a free radical damaging every neutron it touched. Joel Halliday and John O’Dea, both regular Fairway Players, delivered solid, believable performances as Lord Angkatell and Gudgeon the Butler respectively. Of the remaining roles, Mark Digworth as the dashing Edward and Isabella Back as the frumpy Gerda gave these tricky parts their all.

Director Kevin MacDonald chose to set this production in 1951, the year it was first staged in the West End. Marianne Payne and Denise Malcolm, who are credited with sourcing costumes and props, deserve their own round of applause, as this critic couldn’t fault the tweed suits, gathered skirts, and some unusual props—including an antique mole trap—only referred to once in the script. Eagle-eyed audience members might have noticed this prop mysteriously disappear after the first act! I must say it led to me thinking it would be relevant to the murder… but no spoilers here.

I understand the group is hoping for recognition at this year’s National Amateur Drama Awards and if I were a judge, they’d scoop them all. But don’t take my word for it. Go and see for yourself! The production is on tonight (June 6) and tomorrow night (June 7) only, at St. Barnabas Church Hall, Lockwood.

Comments:

CeHal64

It’s Joel Halliday OBE.

Message exchange between Carol Dearing and Sarah-Jane MacDonald on June 6, 2025:

11:33 a.m. Carol wrote:

What’s your sister’s password? Eight characters.

11:34 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

I don’t know. Dates of birth?

11:43 a.m. Carol wrote:

Tried them all. Even your father’s death date. Nothing.

11:43 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

Twinstar? Fairways? Barbados?

11:46 a.m. Carol wrote:

She got this phone when we all complained about how much her other phone cost us. What would’ve been on her mind then?

11:46 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

The Hollow?

11:46 a.m. Carol wrote:

That’s nine.

11:49 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

I don’t know, Mum. But why has she gone just as we were getting to know her again? Did you two have a row?