For their Autumn production the Lane End Players staged this well-known black comedy.

Professor Marcus convincingly played by James Wood expresses an interest in a room for rent belonging to an elderly widow Mrs Wilberforce impressively played by Eve Barry.

The professor has gathered a team of criminals in the guise of a string quartet who plan a robbery. This diverse gang all talented actors get themselves into several scrapes.

Funny but also quite sinister, when the widow discovers she has been complicit in the robbery she threatens to go to the police.

The gangs decide to kill her but none of them seem to have the enthusiasm or even the ability to eliminate her.

The set was, as always from this group, superb, with brilliant sound effects and lighting adding to the tension.

The train rushing past the window gave an ideal opportunity to dispose of bodies as the gang turn on each other.

There is a very funny scene when, hiding from the police the gang all cram into a tiny cupboard. Mrs Wilberforce invites her friends round for a concert whereupon the horrified gang endeavour to play their instruments.

As they disappear one after another, Mrs Wilberforce is left with the money which she tries to hand over to the police. Not believing a word of her story, they tell her to keep it - which she does with great delight.

Ably produced and directed by Tom Everitt the play was well received by the audience who expressed their pleasure with much acclaim.

An enjoyable evening‘s entertainment. The Players next production is Sleeping Beauty in January and will be their annual pantomime.