Review: Murderous Liaisons at Buxton Opera House

Add an award-winning soap actress and you have the perfect recipe to satisfy the appetite of hungry theatregoers.

However, even with the best of ingredients you don’t always end up with a cordon bleu creation. Take this week’s production of Murderous Liaisons at Buxton Opera House which is good, but not great.

Actors spend a lot of time sitting around discussing ways of bumping people off when more movement would enhance the production. A key speech during the unveiling of the final scene at the opening performance (Tuesday, June 2) was drowned out by loud music.

Brian Clemens’ thriller twists and turns to such an extent that your brain cells will be screaming for mercy.

Gemma Bissix, of EastEnders and Hollyoaks fame, lights up the stage as the sexy spouse of a wife-beater on Spain’s Costa del Crime. She employs a crook to kill her husband while her hubby employs the same man to murder her.

Jamie Thompson shines as hired assassin who imparts complicated speeches with ease; John-Henry Keating as the hubby needs to project some of his lines more and slow down their delivery.

Murderous Liaisons is in Buxton until Saturday, June 6