Malvern Festival Theatre – until Saturday 4th February 2023
Reviewed by Julie Bellerby
5*****
This much loved Agatha Christie’s play is touring to celebrate the 70th Anniversary, which first premiered on 25th November 1952.
It shows that this well written play transcends the passing of time and continues to be a classic favourite for theatre goers.
Monkswell Manor, a remote countryside guesthouse is the setting for this play. Upon the arrival of a police sergeant the guests are horrified to discover that a killer may be in their midst and one by one their secrets start to tumble out into the open.
The stage set was excellent, appearing quite believable that you were in the entrance Hall of Monkswell Manor. Directed by Ian Talbot and Denise Silvey along with Producer Adam Spiegel, this is a first class production.
It is impossible to highlight any one actor who excelled more, with such a strong team of actors with excellent experience on stage. It was a pleasure to submerse myself in the play, having little to bring to your attention of any negative views.
Mollie Ralston played by Joelle Dyson, was very energetic on stage, the character showed many different emotions, as you had an insight into her past which Joelle performed amazingly and left you feeling very sad for her, with the guilt of her past.
Laurence Pears playing Giles Ralston, Mollie’s husband, gave an admirable performance , with Gwyneth Strong as Mrs Boyle. Todd Carty as Major Metcalf, I enjoyed his interpretation of the Major. Mr Paravicini played by Kieran Brown, executed his one liners perfectly, very amusing. Helped by Elliot Clay as Christopher Wren, Joseph Reed as Detective Sargent Trotter, and Essie Barrow as Miss Casewell, completed the line up.
As always the audience is asked by a member of the cast at the curtain call not to give away the end of the play, a tradition that has turned a staggering number of theatre goers into willing accomplices to this murder.