Was it murder or was it an accident? Did Sidney Fox commit matricide or was he the victim of prejudice? Writer, Glenn Chandler, has taken the fascinating case of a gay conman and his dissolute mother and brought their complex relationship and compelling story to life. In Sidney Fox's Crime Chandler lays out the facts and even suggests another alternative version for what happened to Rosaline Fox on October 23, 1929. It is an intriguing tale and it is compellingly told. Sebastian Calver plays the charming rogue Sidney to the hilt. The codependent relationship with his mother, his unabashed involvement with a series of men, and his brazen thievery are all on display. As Sidney's mother, Amanda Bailey exposes the cloying, claustrophobic nature of Rosaline's connection with her son and how her example, no doubt, led him into the life he led. Mark Curry does a fine job as barrister, James Dale Cassels. His debriefing of his client in prison thoughtfully leads the audience into the intricacies of the case and Fox's psychology, and his summation speech is both powerful and persuasive. Indeed, the whole cast do a fine job of acquainting us with these characters who could have wandered out of the golden age of British crime fiction. David Shields' set and the lighting of Joseph Ed Thomas beautifully situate the shifting realities of the narrative and create just the right atmosphere. If you love a good mystery, with an engrossing historical context, you're bound to enjoy Sidney Fox's Crime.
Rated: ★★★
Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by PBGstudios.
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