THEATRE
Written by Agatha
Christie
At
Comedy Theatre, Melbourne until 23 March 2025
Reviewer:
Kate Herbert
Stars: ***1/2
This review is published only on this blog. I’ll
present a radio review on Arts Weekly on 3MBS on Sat 1 Mar 2025. KH
 |
| Cast-And Then There Were NoneMelbourne-Pic Jeff Busby |
Agatha Christie's murder
mystery play, And Then There Were None, adapted from her iconic novelA,
has a cunningly simple premise: ten strangers, each harbouring a dark secret from
their past, are lured to isolated Soldier Island by a mysterious host. A storm
rages outside and they are trapped and, one by one, the guests meet their
untimely deaths. Suspicion grows, accusations fly and the remote and opulent
mansion becomes a deadly prison.
Christie was a master of
suspense and her genius lies in her ability to manipulate the audience's
expectations. And Then There Were None is not merely a jolly old murder
mystery, it is an exploration of guilt, justice, and the corrupting nature of
secrets.
Each character is flawed,
haunted by past actions they desperately try to conceal. Christie peels back
their layers, slowly revealing the darkness that lurks beneath their carefully
constructed facades. We witness the unravelling of their civility as fear and
self-preservation grip them, turning them against each other in a grim fight
for survival.
Robyn Nevin’s production explores
the claustrophobic atmosphere and mounting tension but does not take itself too
seriously, capturing the playfulness of Christie’s ever-so-British dialogue
that ranges from witty quips from smart-mouthed young men, to the whining and
carping of the “downstairs” staff: the cook and butler.
The versatile and capable cast
features some very fine Australian theatre actors, all of whom relish the
cleverly wrought dialogue and the twists and turns of the script.
And Then
There Were None is not
merely a whodunit; it's a psychological thriller that delves into the darker
aspects of human nature leading us down blind alleys and planting seeds of
doubt that keep us guessing until the very end. It is a testament to the
enduring power of a well-crafted mystery. Thank you, Mrs Christie!
Cast
Jack
Bannister -Anthony Marston
Eden
Falk – Dr Armstrong
Jennifer
Flowers – Emily Brent
Nicholas
Hammond – General Mackenzie
Mia
Morrissey – Vera Claythorne
Peter
O’Brien – William Blore
Christen
O’Leary – Mrs Rogers
Chris
Parker –Fred Narracott
Anthony
Phelan – Sir Lawrence Wargrave
Grant
Piro – Mr Rogers
Tom
Stokes – Philip Lombard
Creative
Team
Robyn
Nevin – Director
Paul
Charlier – Sound Designer
Trudy
Dalgliesh – Lighting Designer
Dale
Ferguson – Set & Costume Designer
