When I went down to Bodies from the Library last month, I took as part of my travel reading a copy of this play. Campbell Christie was the brother of Archie Christie, who many of you will know was the first the husband of Agatha Christie. Grand National Night was first performed in 1945. Wikipedia notes that the play ‘premiered at the New Theatre, Oxford before transferring to the Apollo Theatre in London’s West End where it ran for 268 performances between 12 June 1946 and 1 February 1947.’ The Samuel French edition of the script came out in 1947. All the action takes place in a character’s study. A film adaptation came out in 1953, which starred Beatrice Campbell, Moira Lister and Nigel Patrick.
Synopsis
The very pithy Wikipedia summary states that: ‘A racehorse owner quarrels and accidentally kills his wife on the evening of the Grand National.’
The Compton Players add further detail: ‘The play centres round the butler who, out of loyalty to his employer, conceals vital evidence from the police, and lies so successfully that even his employer does not realise the extent of his knowledge. The employer, who had struck his dipsomaniac wife during a violent quarrel and thought he had killed her, moves the body in her car to Liverpool by train. He swears to all concerned that he never left the house that night.’
Yet when the Chesterfield Players performed it in 1955, a Kentish reviewer commented that the other characters were overshadowed by Detective Inspector Ayling, played by Tony Hollands. So, the butler might not be so central, depending on how the play is performed.
Overall Thoughts
The opening scene set at 11pm quickly establishes how different Gerald is to his wife and how much they fail to get along. Their differences are accentuated by their choice in clothing. On the one hand Gerald ‘is wearing an old smoking jacket over his dinner clothes’ and the room he is in emphasises his passion for horses and horse racing. Meanwhile, his wife, Babs, is described as ‘about thirty, and already running to fat. Drink has coarsened and spoilt what must once have been a lovely face. She is heavily made up and flashily dressed in a leopard-skin coat over a suit of red-and-brown checks.’
Babs is not set up as likeable character, as from her first appearance she comes across as deeply unpleasant, impatiently taking Gerald’s drink because she can’t wait for him to make her one, before sounding off on the old butler, as he has already gone to bed. Babs’ addiction to alcohol is at the centre of their argument, and it comes out that she drives whilst drunk, even though she is banned from driving for ten years, due to running someone over. She only avoided a jail sentence because her counsel was able to insinuate that the pedestrian was drunk. Act 1 closes with Babs turning on Gerald, a letter opener in her hand. The lights go out and the next scene moves on to the following day. What has occurred?
Following on from the fatal night, the play increases its character count, with Gerald accumulating a number of guests, a mixture of his own friends and one of Bab’s, as well as Babs’ sister. Yet there is no sign of Babs, and everyone is claiming ignorance as to where she could be. Gerald perpetuates the theory that his wife never returned home last night, and must have stayed elsewhere, but the audience at least know this to be untrue. I must admit I found the conversation rather dull and uninspiring but at least act 1 concludes on the dramatic note that the police have found Babs body inside in her car, near Liverpool.
Act 2 shifts the action to a week later, and the remainder of the play focuses on how Babs died, as well as seeing whether Gerald can avoid having to admit what he has done. I think the cause of death for Babs is changed (from what the audience might expect) in order to make Gerald more sympathetic. I didn’t find the plot to be very original, and it is weakened further by a lack of tension and drama, when the police are seemingly closing in on Gerald. I don’t think there is much emotional involvement from the audience and the ending is somewhat flat, lacking a twist or surprise. This was one of those stilted reads, which feels rather blah and if given a colour would resemble beige. I appreciate it is designed to be performed, but even so, the actors have their work cut out to make this an interesting piece of theatre.
Rating: 3.5/5