Return of the Queen of Crime
Spiders Web, Cambridge Arts Theatre, June 8 FROM the pen of the Queen of crime, Spider's Web is the latest offering from the Agatha Christie Theatre Company.
James Marston
Spiders Web, Cambridge Arts Theatre, June 8
FROM the pen of the Queen of crime, Spider's Web is the latest offering from the Agatha Christie Theatre Company.
And for those who enjoy nothing better than a murder mystery this production is a must see.
Entertaining from start to finish, packed with humour and some excellent performances, Spider's Web is a treat.
Set in the sumptuous drawing room of Copplestone Court in 1952, the play has all the elements you'd expect from Miss Christie - titled characters, a glamorous lady, an odious man, double barrelled surnames, a stooping butler, a rubber of bridge, a slightly nutty gardener, a desk with a secret drawer and a secret passage to the library…
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The action is executed with energy and aplomb by a cast which includes Catherine Shipton of Casualty fame as Mildred Peake, Robert Duncan as Hugo, Bruce Montague as Sir Rowland Delahaye, Ben Neal as Jeremy and Melanie Gutteridge as Clarissa Hailsham-Brown.
When Clarissa discovers a body of Oliver Costello - the nasty new husband of her husband's ex wife - behind the Chesterfield she embarks on a scheme to dispose of it with the help of chums Jeremy, Sir Rowland and Hugo to avoid a scandal.
But plans go awry and when the police arrive, in the form of Inspector Lord played by Denis Lill, after a mysterious tip off, the body is soon discovered in - where else - the secret passageway.
A tangled web of lies and deception are spun, the plot twists and turns, no one knows who's done what and in classic Agatha style not everything or everyone is what they seem.
This is a hugely funny production under the direction of Joe Harmston, the actors shamelessly and brilliantly ham up the comedy and the audience lapped it up.
Great set, great props, great acting and great fun - this is a quality piece of theatre that you'll undoubtedly enjoy.
James Marston