Reviewer - Peter Freund

MYSTERY A GEM FROM NATIONAL

Ballarat National Theatre has found a gem for its production of twentieth century classics well overdue for a Ballarat premiere. Trap For A Lonely Man’ is a milestone in the mystery thriller genre. Its cunning plot and twists of suspense have kept it in continuous production around the world since its 1965 premiere, and it has been adapted for film three times.

The play reveals its French origin in the setting, a chalet in the French Alps, where a newly-wed wife disappears. The local Police inspector appears not to take the case or the distracted husband very seriously, until a woman claiming to be the missing woman turns up. When the husband denies her identity' the guessing game begins. Director Julian Oldfield has assembled an impressive cast for this mystery treat. National watchers will remember Ben Griffiths from the recent one act play season and will enjoy his confusion as the bewildered husband. Fred Fargher departs from his usual comedy roles to give us a forceful and focused Performance as the Inspector, determined to sniff out the truth in this maze.

Angela Quinlan and Bob Thurman do a nice double act as the enigmatic wife and the priest who supports her story. Barrie McCausland's blundering tramp fills out the story nicely and I particularly liked the velvet glove and iron fist of Pam Maiden's Nurse. National deserve credit for the attention to detail in set, props, costume and lighting. It is great to see Young people given the chance to excel as the stage management team.