User Reviews

A good role for Lee Meriwether, but yes, you have to admit it's been done before. Writer Marc Brandel, known for BURKES LAW, may have snagged the idea from a Miss Marple movie, starring Margaret Rutherford, MURDER MOST FOUL. Watch for it on TCM.

Betty up and joins a local theater group, plagued with problems, particularly their star, played by popular actress Penny Peyser (as Sybil). Peyser had previously appeared in RICH MAN, POOR MAN, BOOK II. Of course, there's a dangerous character on the prowl and Barnaby's detective skills are needed.

Still Lee Meriwether is fun to watch, and in different role for a change of pace, which even allows her to sing. Guessing the culprit is always worth your time.

Good cast at work here, namely Charles Siebert, known for TRAPPER JOHN, STAR TREK alum Jonathan Frakes and veteran actress Patricia Donahue (as Laura), who appeared on the series before. Donahue appeared in many classic tv dramas, notably PERRY MASON.

A salute to Charles Siebert, who passed in 2022.

For all us Lee Meriwether fans. SEASON 7 EPISODE 8 remastered color. 6 dvd set. 2018 release. Only Barnaby's picture is on the front cover. My only complaint.

In "Stages of Fear", an up and coming actress seems to possibly having someone trying to drive her over the edge. Too many coincidences have occurred and lend credence to the notion that someone is messing with the actress. And, to investigate, Betty goes undercover by joining the production.

This is a fair episode. The story was reasonably interesting and Betty was okay in this role as a singer/performer/secretary/private eye. But the solution to the case...well, that just seemed VERY weak and tough to believe.

The story was okay, nothing special, it's been done before.

Nothing against Lee Meriwether, but she isn't the greatest singer. Not that she was any worse than the rest of the cast. My biggest gripe with these old TV shows is that they constantly cast people to sing who can't sing. Unfortunately, most of this cast couldn't act either. Ray Wise (as Malcolm Elliot) did a good job; but the rest were pretty bad. Penny Peyser (as Sybil Crawford) and her wide-eyed innocent look got old after the first 10 minutes; apparently she doesn't have another facial expression. I didn't even recognize Jonathan Frakes (as David Douglas); his acting improved somewhat by the time he got to Star Trek. Overall, not a bad show, although the ending was kind of flat; the reason for everything was pretty ridiculous.