Accidental Death of an Accordionist

The title is irresistible. I don't know what Dario Fo would make of the name of his most famous play being thus adapted, but given his interest in clowning and popular culture I'm sure he really wouldn't mind.

In fact, any resemblance does end with the title - the only political anger here is that shown by the Laird to a young ecological activist, or tree-hugger as he puts it.

No, here you can relax at the Glengirnie fund-raising ceilidh. You may even be lucky enough, as I was, to be greeted by local tourist board officer Jean Robertson, resplendent in lavender tweed, pearls and sensible hairstyle.

That was in the bar even before we were shown through to our tables and introduced to the Tour-A-Rural Ceilidh Band, or at least the one of them that had turned up. Once all the other people at the table had introduced themselves it was time for the dancing to start.

Yes, this is not so much a promenade production as a Gay Gordons and Strip the Willow production, or at least it is until two deaths occur. Luckily even then there's time to draw the raffle before the police arrive, once they've managed to get themselves a new blue light for the top of their car.

In the meantime the festering secrets beneath the calm surface of seemingly peaceful Glengirnie are revealed. Do the deaths have to do with giant organic onions, or time-share schemes, or seething passions, or wandering wives, or jealousy or matters of political security? All will be revealed but will it be too late for the portrait that might be a Raeburn but most probably isn't?

This is a fun show that never has pretensions to be anything else. Performances are not so much sketched in as daubed on in the broadest of strokes, which is just what the play demands. The room at St Brides is perfect for it. Once in you really do feel part of the community and you can't escape participating in the unfolding events, in however major of minor a way.

It is a shame that it's been programmed so late but if you want a musical murder mystery where you might even win a raffle prize then you can do no better. You even get to keep a copy of the Glengirnie Gazette, full of fascinating local news and Jean's very own crossword.