Review: The Perfect Murder, Canterbury's Marlowe Theatre, Monday, September 3

With more twists and turns than a Midsomer Murders omnibus, The Perfect Murder opened at Canterbury's Marlowe Theatre with a bang last night.

It's the first stage adaptation of international best-selling crime novelist Peter James' work and it was immediately clear why he's sold more than 15 million books worldwide.

The plot is first class and the audience feels an immediate connection with the characters as violence is carefully balanced with comedy from start to finish.

Any opening night jitters were undetectable as stars Robert Daws and Dawn Steele thrived performing the darkly comic and always thrilling storyline.

Full of black humour, the story revolves around Victor Smiley (Daws) and his wife Joan (Steele), who bicker at every opportunity with their marriage on the rocks.

As their fraught relationship hits crisis point, Victor knows there is only one way to get Joan out of his life forever, but she has other, darker ideas.

The arrival of handyman Don Kirk (Gary O'Brien) before the interval gives the plot a new direction and his Jack-the-lad character soaks up the laughs.

It's hard to believe the cast is only five-strong with so many twists and turns.

But Victor, Joan, Don and other characters Detective Constable Roy Grace and Kamila Walcak work very well together throughout.

To say much more would start to give it away as the audience thinks it knows what's going to happen before another twist forces a drastic rethink.

But we can say this: the story flows very well - helped by the split-level set which allows fluid scene changes - and the audience is always captivated.

It's spooky at times, can make you jump in parts and, in the end, it's not what you might expect - most certainly not.

The Perfect Murder is at Canterbury’s Marlowe Theatre from Tuesday, September 2, until Saturday, September 6.

Performances are daily at 7.30pm with a matinee at 2.30pm on Thursday and Saturday. Tickets from £16. Call 01227 787787 or visit www.marlowetheatre.com