Theatre Royal Concert Hall Nottingham – until Saturday 27th January 2024
Reviewed by Amarjeet Singh
4****
And Then There Were None tells the tale of ten strangers lured to a solitary mansion on the mysterious Soldier Island. When cut off from the mainland, and with their hosts absent, the true reason for their presence on the island becomes horribly clear, as secrets from their past come back to haunt them. Each is accused of a historical crime, and slowly they are picked off one by one by an unknown force lurking in the shadows. The atmospheric opening to this play sets the tone for an entertaining and eerie piece of theatre. Shrouded by swaths of gauze and surrounded by layered whispers the entire cast are on stage, setting the scene for Agatha Christie’s most read work, but also the best-selling crime novel of all time.
Director Lucy Bailey handled staging the whodunit with innovation and style. Act 1 is slightly exposition-heavy and slightly dragged, but this is understandably difficult to navigate when trying to juggle many characters and ensuring they are fully fleshed out. The artistic choice of portraying the flash back scenes were an interesting and successful way to keep the audience engaged and invested. Act 2 employed a darker and more fast paced, threatening aura, the claustrophobic effect leaving us feeling a true sense of murder most horrid. The set, a place where the past meets the present and the indoors and outdoors have no boundaries, steadily deteriorates as the murders pile up. Chris Davey’s lighting and Mike Britton’s set and costume designs, superbly manage to convey the sense of steadily impending terror.
The stellar cast are captivating, and their combined performances are strong enough to evoke an atmosphere of accumulating doom, making this rendition a thoroughly entertaining watch. Lucy Tregear brought depth to her portrayal of Georgina Rogers. Sophie Walter is slick as Vera Claythorne. Jeffrey Kissoon fully embodies General Mackenzie, most notably during his flashback scene. David Yelland adds a sense of gravitas to his performance as Judge Wargrave. Oliver Clayton played Anthony Marston wonderfully, the cad we love to hate. Andrew Lancel balances the complex character of William Blore skilfully with brilliant comic timing and appropriate pathos. Katy Stephens is excellent as the prim Emily Brent. Stephens, Lancel and Clayton brought some brilliantly timed comic relief to balance tense moments.
I’m being deliberately vague in describing the characters for those unfamiliar with the story, as you are invited to play detective and discover who is the executioner on Soldier Island. Who is the murderer holding each guest accountable for their actions in this refreshing production, culminating in a truly shocking but thoroughly compelling conclusion.