HOWEVER concerned the residents of North Tawton may be about the lack of police presence on the streets, after last week's ANTS production of Peter Gordon's Agatha Christie spoof 'Murdered to Death', they must all be relieved that they are spared the ministrations of men such as 'Inspector Pratt'.

Called upon to solve the proverbial murder case at the proverbial country manor house, Pratt — played with impeccable comic timing by North Tawton's postmaster, Nigel Davies — bumbled his way through a series of hilarious gaffes. A genius for finding the wrong word at the wrong time, Pratt attempted to hunt down the 'percolator' of the crime; identify which 'alligators' were making false accusations; and tackle those who dared to cast 'nasturtiums' on his crime-busting abilities.

The assembled house guests were colourful characters, played with great expression by the ANTS cast.

Pratt's resigned sidekick, Constable Thomkins, was brought to life by an elastic-faced Paul Reed, while John Palmer nailed the fabulously drunk butler, Bunting, whose graceful but nauseous navigations around the stage were utterly convincing.

Anthony Morris's portrayal of the pompous yet vulnerable old Colonel Craddock — who wished that women were more like chaps because 'you know where you are with chaps' — was splendid as a man comically caught between the endless demands of his battleaxe wife, played by Sue Weedon, and those of his dotty mistress Mildred Bagshot, played by Wendy Hill.

Equally compelling were Anna Field's Dorothy, the only sane character in the whole household, and Marion Pratt's wonderfully prosaic and nosey neighbour, aptly named Miss Maple, who padded around on stage in her slippers, unnerving the Inspector with her pert comments and endlessly mis-timed cups of tea.

Throw a French con artist, played by YANTS member Hamish Inglis, and his moll, Sarah Cacchio's faux-posh Elizabeth Hartley-Trumpington, into the pot and you had a real recipe for burlesque disaster.

Creative stage direction and dramatic coherence belied the fact that this was director Tracey Norman's first solo project for ANTS, and three sell-out nights and ready audience applause amply confirms there is a healthy appetite for this kind of well-crafted daftness in North Tawton.

Emma Wilby