Stage Struck - Murder, She Wrote 3:10

Plus Eleanor Parker's recipe for Bean Soup

Feb 12, 2025

Goodness me, there are some great lines in this episode, and Eleanor Parker's character gets most of them.

Maggie Tarrow is an ageing has-been actress who is making a comeback. A revival of a play that was a massive hit for her is being staged in the very same theatre where the first run took place.

Although Maggie claims to be on the wagon, she's still secretly knocking back the vino collapso.

After some histrionics during a rehearsal and a fainting fit,

the theatre owner loses patience with her. He adamantly states that the days when emotional prima donnas ruled the stage are over.

But Jessica stands up for her friend, suspecting a good reason for her skittishness.

It seems as though Maggie is a victim of gaslighting.

There's a lovely moment in this episode when Jessica remembers her early romance with Frank. They met backstage when J.B. was a young scene painter at this same theatre. She hears his voice in her head…

This is a repertory theatre where roles are fluid; J.B. confides in one of the actors that she was never much of an actress herself. I don’t believe that for one minute, let us not forget she employs her acting skills when she needs to…

As an aside, McMillan and Wife fans will enjoy a performance by John Schuck who is playing a “bad Hercule Poirot.” John was a regular in the husband and wife detective show, appearing in 39 episodes.

Now for the episode specific recipe!

This is a very simple soup, but Eleanor told her fans, “It's wonderful on cool nights, and even in hot weather - after a badminton game, for example - it's a fine pick-me-up.” No need to play badminton before having a bowl of this soup. I say watch Stage Struck instead!

Eleanor Parker's Bean Soup

1-pound small white navy beans

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1-pound lean salt pork, cut into squares

Wash the beans in cold water after removing any discolored or broken beans. Boil the beans for 3 minutes in water 2 inches above the beans to which soda has been added. Drain and rinse them three times in cold water. Cut the pork into small squares. Cover the beans with fresh water and add the pork. Boil slowly for 4 hours, stirring every 10 minutes to prevent sticking or scorching. Taste the broth. If it's too salty, pour off part of it and replace it with fresh water. Cook until the beans break up and lose their shape.

Serves 8

Watch Parties

Our January watch party was so much fun. Here are a few of my favourite comments from those who watched alongside me from the comfort of their own sofas. My comments are in blue…

.There was much to be enjoyed style-wise

and hair-do-wise

Hahaha - we had such a laugh. Join us next time, everyone is welcome and it really is a blast watching an episode with other people all around the world. Next text-along-a-murder-she-wrote will be The Corpse Flew First Class in April - stick the date in your diary.

Let’s all be MORE JESSICA in 2025!

Last month I signed off the newsletter with the phrase, “Let’s all be MORE JESSICA in 2025 xx” and a reader in Australia called Pamela got in touch to ask what I’d meant by it. Well, I was thinking that J.B. is such a role model and has so many qualities I would like to emulate. She has lots of wonderful characteristics aside from her intelligence and crime-solving skills of course.

Her work ethic when it comes to writing is a big inspiration to me

but she is also kind, and caring and makes time for her friends and family.

I asked Pamela what she thought were J.B.’s best qualities and she wrote that she’d been thinking about how Jessica lived - and felt that maybe being more Jessica is:

having a life with less social media!;
caring about people, but not being afraid to use ‘tough’ love to help them;
nurturing your talents,
reading more!;
being brave when it’s required;
baking more (instead of buying stuff!);
enjoy cooking at home (instead of buying takeaways);
going for walks or bike rides to the local shops...
So maybe it’d be more like the lives we used to live?
I find that homey, ordered life of Jessica’s very appealing in today’s world!

Me too, Pamela!

To be more like Jessica this month I am choosing to focus on the first of Pamela’s list and have a life with less social media so I can focus more on writing volume 2 of Murder, She Cooked!

What about you? Is there a character trait of Jessica’s you’d like to channel this month, this year or this life?! Let me know in the comments or reply to this email. I always love to hear from readers.

My chum Tim Benzie hosts hilarious theatrical events, coming soon to the USA!

Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote

Star-Spangled Cookbooks

If you buy books directly from me, I can sign them for you and write a personal message to you, or the intended recipient of the book. I love sending books from my home on the south coast of the UK all around the world!

Silver Screen Suppers on Etsy