A Judgement In Stone

A Judgement In Stone is one of Ruth Rendelll’s most celebrated whodunnits. It was published in 1977 but you wouldn’t know it from the costumes. Where were the flares and wide lapels? There are tons of red herrings to keep us guessing but a lot of the exposition could be cut from the first half to quicken the pace. I enjoyed the performances, but the culprit’s motivation to commit murder wasn’t convincing and I was left disappointed by the denouement. Overall it would have benefited from a lighter, most satirical tone. It takes quadruple homicide way too seriously.

Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne, 27 February 2017
Rating:
Martin Baron