REVIEW
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
AGATHA CHRISTIE’S
THE MIRROR CRACK’D
28 November - 3 December Southend Palace Theatre
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
AGATHA CHRISTIE’S
THE MIRROR CRACK’D
28 November - 3 December Southend Palace Theatre
Hallelujah, praise the Lord, at last we have a murder mystery play that won't send its demographic audience off to sleep!
The Mirror Crack'd is probably one of Agatha Christie's best known mysteries, originally published in 1962 and entitled The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side, it was then adapted in 1980 into a feature film starring Angela Lansbury as Miss Marple, Elizabeth Taylor, Kim Novak, Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis. On television, adaptations of the novel have starred Joan Hickson as Miss Marple in 1992 and Julia McKenzie as Miss Marple in 2011.
This production is a brilliant new adaption written by Rachel Wagstaff. Set in 1960s England in the sleepy village of St Mary Mead, and times they are a changing with a new modern housing estate being built where 'men with tight trousers' and 'women pushing prams and not wearing wedding rings' have been sighted, much to the chagrin of the more established genteel locals; and as if that's not enough for the villagers to digest, a rich American film star, Marina Gregg, has bought the manor house, formerly belonging to Miss Marple's very good friend, Dolly Bantry. It's all happening! And then, to top it all off, there's a shocking murder and Miss Marple takes on the challenge of unravelling just who in the killer.
However, poor old Miss Marple has been stuck indoors with a sprained ankle and so when her nephew, the newly promoted 'Chief' Inspector Craddock turns up with a fresh murder case to solve, she's keen to crack on and help him, despite her restrictions. There's been a murder during a drinks party at the manor involving a villager and the new owner, Hollywood actress, Marina Gregg (Sophie Ward), has to be questioned, alongside her film producer husband, Jason Rudd, played at this performance by understudy to Joe McFadden, David Partridge.
Susie Blake as Miss Marple is quite brilliant. Her scenes with Craddock and Dolly bring in a lot of humour and Oliver Boot is just fantastic playing the frustrated Inspector trying, just for once, to solve a murder mystery without the help of his aunt. You can really feel his pain at times.
What surprised me the most watching this play is just how much fun it is, with quite a few laugh out loud moments. There are little jibes throughout the play relating to the ageing process and its many debilitating factors, which will be relatable to many of us. Miss Marple bats them off with great wit and humility. Susie Blake's comic timing is spot on with just a look or inflection enough to garner chuckles from the audience. She really gives this version of Miss Marple an injection of realism and humanity. The relationships with her nephew and Dolly are also gently explored in this play. Veronica Roberts as Dolly Bantry is simply delightful, playing the role just a tiny touch reminiscent of Keeping Up Appearances' Hyacinth Bucket but also very much making the part her own. Miss Marple and Dolly share a beautifully played scene where they reminisce about their past and it is played with such great feeling and emotion that it really gives us a better understanding of their characters.
The staging of this production is a real breath of fresh air and has been very cleverly designed; a rectangular glass house that dominates practically half of the stage and is able to turn to become either a backdrop for Miss Marple's house, a film studio or the inside of a manor house. There's plenty of excitement as the story unfolds with the use of flashbacks re-playing the events of the evening of the murder and a few surprises that will have you jumping out of your seat. The whole concept works fantastically well and the ensemble cast in this production work together with such fluidity that each scene change merges into the next seamlessly. Movement director, Sophia Vi, has done a great job here. The cast work fantastically well together and every character is played with great depth of feeling. There are no weak links.
There are some great characters in this play with Mara Allen, Sarah Lawrie and Chrystine Symone all doing cracking jobs in their roles as Cherry Baker, Ella Zielinsky and Lola Brewster. Jules Melvin also stands out with a masterclass on projection. Sophie Ward is hauntingly charming as the Hollywood star with a painful back story but can someone give her wigs a bit of movement please (slight distraction).
Of course, the murderer is finally revealed, thanks to the experienced and empathetic skills of Miss Marple who, despite the times changing and progressing, really should have been the Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard of her day.
This production is probably one of the best murder mystery plays I've seen. Brilliantly written, well produced, fantastically performed and I defy anyone to nod off. It would be a crime if you did. Don't miss it!
Review: Kim Tobin
The Mirror Crack'd is probably one of Agatha Christie's best known mysteries, originally published in 1962 and entitled The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side, it was then adapted in 1980 into a feature film starring Angela Lansbury as Miss Marple, Elizabeth Taylor, Kim Novak, Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis. On television, adaptations of the novel have starred Joan Hickson as Miss Marple in 1992 and Julia McKenzie as Miss Marple in 2011.
This production is a brilliant new adaption written by Rachel Wagstaff. Set in 1960s England in the sleepy village of St Mary Mead, and times they are a changing with a new modern housing estate being built where 'men with tight trousers' and 'women pushing prams and not wearing wedding rings' have been sighted, much to the chagrin of the more established genteel locals; and as if that's not enough for the villagers to digest, a rich American film star, Marina Gregg, has bought the manor house, formerly belonging to Miss Marple's very good friend, Dolly Bantry. It's all happening! And then, to top it all off, there's a shocking murder and Miss Marple takes on the challenge of unravelling just who in the killer.
However, poor old Miss Marple has been stuck indoors with a sprained ankle and so when her nephew, the newly promoted 'Chief' Inspector Craddock turns up with a fresh murder case to solve, she's keen to crack on and help him, despite her restrictions. There's been a murder during a drinks party at the manor involving a villager and the new owner, Hollywood actress, Marina Gregg (Sophie Ward), has to be questioned, alongside her film producer husband, Jason Rudd, played at this performance by understudy to Joe McFadden, David Partridge.
Susie Blake as Miss Marple is quite brilliant. Her scenes with Craddock and Dolly bring in a lot of humour and Oliver Boot is just fantastic playing the frustrated Inspector trying, just for once, to solve a murder mystery without the help of his aunt. You can really feel his pain at times.
What surprised me the most watching this play is just how much fun it is, with quite a few laugh out loud moments. There are little jibes throughout the play relating to the ageing process and its many debilitating factors, which will be relatable to many of us. Miss Marple bats them off with great wit and humility. Susie Blake's comic timing is spot on with just a look or inflection enough to garner chuckles from the audience. She really gives this version of Miss Marple an injection of realism and humanity. The relationships with her nephew and Dolly are also gently explored in this play. Veronica Roberts as Dolly Bantry is simply delightful, playing the role just a tiny touch reminiscent of Keeping Up Appearances' Hyacinth Bucket but also very much making the part her own. Miss Marple and Dolly share a beautifully played scene where they reminisce about their past and it is played with such great feeling and emotion that it really gives us a better understanding of their characters.
The staging of this production is a real breath of fresh air and has been very cleverly designed; a rectangular glass house that dominates practically half of the stage and is able to turn to become either a backdrop for Miss Marple's house, a film studio or the inside of a manor house. There's plenty of excitement as the story unfolds with the use of flashbacks re-playing the events of the evening of the murder and a few surprises that will have you jumping out of your seat. The whole concept works fantastically well and the ensemble cast in this production work together with such fluidity that each scene change merges into the next seamlessly. Movement director, Sophia Vi, has done a great job here. The cast work fantastically well together and every character is played with great depth of feeling. There are no weak links.
There are some great characters in this play with Mara Allen, Sarah Lawrie and Chrystine Symone all doing cracking jobs in their roles as Cherry Baker, Ella Zielinsky and Lola Brewster. Jules Melvin also stands out with a masterclass on projection. Sophie Ward is hauntingly charming as the Hollywood star with a painful back story but can someone give her wigs a bit of movement please (slight distraction).
Of course, the murderer is finally revealed, thanks to the experienced and empathetic skills of Miss Marple who, despite the times changing and progressing, really should have been the Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard of her day.
This production is probably one of the best murder mystery plays I've seen. Brilliantly written, well produced, fantastically performed and I defy anyone to nod off. It would be a crime if you did. Don't miss it!
Review: Kim Tobin
Website: www.originaltheatre.com
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @MissMarpleTour / @OriginalTheatre
28 November - 3 December Southend Palace Theatre 0343 310 0030
palacetheatresouthend.co.uk on sale
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @MissMarpleTour / @OriginalTheatre
28 November - 3 December Southend Palace Theatre 0343 310 0030
palacetheatresouthend.co.uk on sale