And Then There Were None REVIEW 22 Feb 2025 ***1/2

 

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