In Cold Light

CAST: 2 male, 1 female

SCENE EXCERPT

SYNOPSIS: Father Christian Lamori, assistant headmaster of a Catholic boys’ school called St Matthew's, is waiting in a room when an Inspector enters and begins asking a series of brusque questions to an uncertain end. We learn that a missing teacher from St Matthew’s appears to have contacted the Inspector with disturbing information, including the threat of murder. Lamori denies any knowledge and insists on having a lawyer present. The Inspector begins to taunt Lamori, insinuating inappropriate behaviour towards his students before revealing that Damien Vincent, a boy in Lamori’s care, has been found dead in suspicious circumstances. The Inspector asks a series of leading questions about Lamori’s relationship with Vincent, and a very rattled Lamori struggles to cope with news of Vincent’s death as well as the apparent disappearance of his heart medication. The Inspector delves further into Lamori’s past, revealing more unsavoury allegations, eventually producing a blood-stained pillow found with Vincent’s body – a pillow belonging to Lamori. Lamori vociferously denies any wrongdoing and discovers that a machine he thought was recording the conversation contains no recording tape or power source. The Inspector produces other items that incriminate Lamori: an inscribed bible, a school blazer and a silver crucifix. Lamori attempts to persuade the Inspector of a conspiracy on the basis of his having recently been followed by someone, though the Inspector appears unconvinced and continues to goad and taunt Lamori to the point where Lamori becomes convinced that the Inspector is not who he claims to be. A broken Lamori reveals a shameful secret that he has been carrying, and the Inspector’s own revelation provides a surprising and ameliorative end to the play. 

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Matt Nable in In Cold Light (photo from Lisa Maree Williams)

“The mystery is enticing…an intellectual exercise which any crime fiction addict cannot afford to miss”

(Canberra Times)