Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Becky Illsley, Alice Ellerby, Natasia Hodge.

Think back to all the great detective shows and heroes, Poirot, Marple, Barnaby, Frost, Cagney and Lacey, Morse, all known for their cunning wit, dogged determination in the face of evil and murder and not quite the knack of spinning out a yarn with humour and unbelievable, almost  astonishing, acts of feat. It is highly unlikely that Jean Marple would throw herself around with the same amount of gusto that Becky Illsley and Alice Ellerby managed in their performance of A Cosy Murder.

A Cosy murder it was too as the two women gave their own spirited interpretation of a murder on small secluded island, the clues, the suspects and of course the mastermind criminal hell bent on revenge. The Unity theatre audience were taken on a ride of spellbinding imagination in an epic tale that will probably do a lot more for police recruitment if all felonies were committed with such female derring-do.

Roping in the excellent Natasia Hodge, who thrilled audiences earlier in the year as part of Masque Theatre’s rendition of great musical hits, was a masterstroke as she gave the two versatile and incredibly funny actors the added extra bits of humour that may have been missing as she performed the background music and special effects.

What made the evening complete though was being let on, as if some great conspiracy secret was being forced out of them, that this was the first time this particular play had been performed. Even the most hardened of theatre attendees could not have been more impressed at the thought of what had gone on infront of them. There is arguably nothing more demanding than physical theatre and Becky Illsley and Alice Ellerby took that concept further than most. Demanding certainly, inspiring…yes, brilliantly accomplished, without a doubt.

Jilted Pig proved that the saying give someone enough rope and no doubt that they’ll make an hour fly by with much delight and enthralling entertainment.

Ian D. Hall