From Publishers Weekly
After tedious months of "resting," Brett's endearing actor-sleuth Charlie Paris gladly accepts the offer to play multi-characters in a very economical Macbeth production. At the bar in the Pinero Theatre, in the English town of Warminster, Paris meets producer Gavin Scholes and others in the company. One is Warnock Belvedere, assigned the role of Duncan; he is murdered during rehearsals, to no one's regret. A vicious man, Warnock had offended barman Norman Phipps, his wife Sandra and the members of the cast. Since Charlie is the sole suspect, he turns detective to clear himself and nail the killer. As in all the series entries, this is a charmer enhanced by Charlie's comic asides about "life upon the wicked stage." There are hilarious stories of performances for boisterous school boys who hear sexual overtones in the drama; of thespians upstaging each other; and the maddening delays created by the actress who plays Lady Macbeth. Among Brett's most entertaining creations, she insists on everyone "interpreting" the roles instead of acting.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
When Charles Paris is asked to appear in a provincial theater production of Macbeth, he is elated to be working at last. However, this version of "the Scottish play" seems to have more than the expected amount of bad luck. From the casting of George Birkett, a TV sitcom actor, as Macbeth; Felicia Chatterton, a young actress who wants to discuss every nuance of her character, as Lady Macbeth; and, worst of all, the irascible Warnock Belvedere as Duncan, the play is riddled with mishaps. However, when Warnock is found dead in the liquor storage room, and Charles becomes the chief suspect, it seems that more than superstition is at work. At times incompetent, and quite often dead-drunk, Charles almost always manages to get the mystery solved and provide quite a few laughs along the way. Simon Prebble's performance of this delightful theatrical mystery is excellent. Highly recommended for all public libraries.
Theresa Connors, Arkansas Tech Univ., Russellville Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
