Horndean Amateur Theatre presented the comedy /who-done-it But Why Bump Off Barnaby by Rick Abbot from 30th March to 1st April in the Church Hall.
It was a Friday evening,
A dark and stormy night,
Inside a spooky mansion
With intermittent light!
A family had gathered
Plus extras, one or two,
A murderer amongst them.
The question though was who?
Then happenings disturbing,
Like sherry turning green,
A most unhealthy colour,
’Twas poison so did seem.
The unintended victim
A most unfortunate fly.
What dastardly intention
Did make the creature die?
Much worse about to happen
A murderous attack,
For Barnaby lay prostrate
A dagger in his back!
Someone had bumped off Barnaby!
The question though was why?
The poorest of the family,
And not a wealthy guy.
There followed much discussion
And need for alibis
Detection and deduction
And sifting through the lies.
With blackouts and loud noises,
Bookcase with secret door.
And people disappearing
Who re-appeared once more.
It seemed there was a Tontine
Conceived sometime ago.
A dangerous arrangement,
As everyone should know.
A limerick was crucial
Each portion formed a clue
Recited in right order
The answer could construe.
The “treasure” was a picture,
Well actually the frame
Was made of gold and priceless
A weapon then became
When off the wall it toppled
Was soon apparent that
The murderer beneath it
Squashed absolutely flat.
With “Barnaby” not Barnaby,
And definitely not dead
Until the very ending.
(An actor died instead.)
At the risk of sounding “corny”,
But anyway I’ve penned.
In fact “the Butler did it.”
And here my rhyme will end.