Busybody

Bedford Players is a community theatre company that has become known for staging light comedy. And while there is a devoted fan base that enjoys this frothy and fun type of theatre, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. However, farce-fan or not, I predict that you’ll laugh hard and long at Busybody, a “comedy/whodunnit” written in 1964 by Jack Popplewell and directed by Robin Saywood. Popplewell has created an h-dropping Cockney housekeeper named Lily Piper who is as smart as she is rough around the edges. Her partner-in-crime-solving is the gruff and blustery detective superintendent Baxter (Jonathan Tyson). First-time actor Karen Waterfield possesses the warmth, wit and perfect comic timing to make Mrs. Piper spring to life. The story involves a disappearing body and some sordid office hanky-panky, but plot definitely comes second place to character in this charming comedy. –Kate Watson