br 2 Saturday-Night Theatre: The Instruments of Darknessbr Sat 24th Sep 1977, 20:30 on BBC Radio 4 FMbr By Michael Robsonbr br A comedy thriller; the second of two plays about the eccentric Inspector Millions.br br The happy excitement attendant upon the forthcoming opening of the Crystal Palace has been marred by two inexplicable fatalities. Two days ago at half past six in the morning, a scaffolder was seen to fall abruptly some 40 feet to the floor of the Oriental Tea Room and, yesterday morning, an even more macabre death was to follow ... a man was seen lying motionless 60 feet up in the branches of a sycamore tree - thebr br centre-piece of a horticultural display! An motley crew assemble to sort out who did it: Joseph Paxton, a host of characters with unlikely names, and Inspector Millions and his sidekick Dynasty Surecard.br br Directed By: David Spenserbr br Inspector Millions: Nigel Stockbr Dynasty Surecard: Anthony Hallbr Melisande, Lady Quandary: Elizabeth Proudbr Porritt: Richard Hurndallbr Xerxes, Lord Quandary: Manning Wilsonbr Sir Joseph PaxtonFleet Ned Sprott: Brian Hewlettbr Dr Melchior YollandBishop of Whetstone:br Michael Deaconbr Caroline Muldoon: Heather Bellbr Nimbles Earthrowl: Peter Wickhambr Edgar Joynstschism: Nigel Grahambr Danvers Gimlinge: Michael Harbourbr Sir Jericho Arbogast: Henry Knowlesbr MeldrumPeebles Clatworthy: Trader Faulknerbr Mrs Glumdalclitch Orsborne: Irene Sutcliffebr Daffodil: Penelope Reynoldsbr Nigel Stock as Inspector Millionsbr br By Michael Robsonbr br The Terrible Connexion, The first of two Victorian mysteries solved by 'the eccentric Inspector Millions', as the Radio Times has it.br Its companion-piece is The Instruments of Darknessbr br Both plays are self-consciously baroque and establish their own idiom, with formal dialogue, fanciful crimes and grotesque characters with outre names. Nigel Stock plays the inspector with great panache, relishing his lines and contriving to make him at once absurd and impressive. Anthonybr br Hall is his piping sidekick, the industrious Dynasty Surecard.