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A very engaging, creative and humorous new take on a familiar (to some) classic Christie mystery, which keeps up the suspense and guessing game throughout.Summary
Rating
Excellent
There is nothing like a cosy Agatha Christie murder mystery to make the winter season feel a little warmer. The Mirror Crack’d is one of her best-known stories, so I already knew whodunnit and why. However, this adaptation by Rachel Wagstaff is a fresh take on the story, with some clever new twists and deviations. It is therefore as engaging for audiences already familiar with the mystery as it is for those experiencing it for the first time.
Elderly crime solver Miss Marple, brought to life with witty intelligence by Alison Liney, is visited by Chief Inspector Craddock (Sebastian Chrispin), whom she helped raise as a child. Chrispin brings believable warmth and frustration towards his ‘aunt’. They are investigating the death of local resident Heather Lee (Clare Janew), whose drink was poisoned at a party. The mystery deepens as the pair believe the real intended target was famous actress Marina Gregg (Lucy Moss), who soon has another attempt made on her life. As neither investigator was present at the party, they call upon the testimony of multiple witnesses/suspects to piece together the events. We meet Marina’s protective husband Jason Rudd (Alex T. Hornby), harried secretary Ella Zielensky (Sophie King), rival actress Lola Brewster (Lauren Budd), loyal butler Giuseppe Renzo (Eduardo Pelegrinello) and Cyril Leigh (Paul Isaacs), husband of the deceased Heather. Clever twists and secrets are revealed before the identity of the murder is deduced. Liney and Chrispin brilliantly bring to life the dynamic of their conflicting approaches to interviewing suspects.
The costume design by Haidee Elise brings this 60’s period piece to vivid life and signifies everyone’s social status, which (true to the time) unfairly influences opinion on their likely reliability or guilt. The upper-class Rudd and Gregg have stylish blazers and glamorous dresses, the middle-class Craddock and Miss Marple have plain but elegant suit, trenchcoat and blouse, all of which contrast with the workwear of the working-class staff.
This is a fast-paced investigation and the set design by Jude Chalk is cleverly modular to allow rapid switches between the different interview and crime scenes. Various chairs and tables are brought to the foreground to represent Miss Marple’s house, the Gossington Hall party venue and the film studio where Marina’s latest motion picture is being produced. This also allows plenty of space to be cleared for the frequent flashbacks to the party; the stage is filled with the whole cast reenacting the events leading up to the tragic poisoning.
These flashbacks showcase the sense of playfulness and humour which director Dan Usztan and Wagstaff’s script bring to this adaptation; action is paused, altered and resumed at the direction of witnesses recounting events. Stephen Lee’s lighting draws focus to different events and suspects, supported by suitably dramatic or mysterious music by Colin Guthrie. Two witnesses at the party are Miss Marple’s posh friend Dolly Bantry (Sangita Modgil) and working-class carer Cherry Baker (Emily Hassan). The differences between them are played up to great humorous effect, interrupting and correcting each other to tell their competing version of events, whilst Bantry corrects Baker’s grammar. Characters featuring in the flashbacks also have an awareness of what those in the present are saying about them, causing brilliant comic reactions. As the list of suspects is considered, the cast parade onto the stage and stand in dramatic poses whilst their merits as a potential murderer are discussed.
This is a very well-produced and creative production, with the brilliant cast engaging throughout. It will keep everyone absorbed in guessing the identity and motivation of the murderer, which is a key success for any murder mystery.
Original story written by Agatha Christie
Adapted by Rachel Wagstaff
Director: Dan Usztan
Set designer: Jude Chalk
Costume designer: Haidee Elise
Lighting designer: Stephen Lee
Composer and sound designer: Colin Guthrie
Mirror Crack’d plays at Tower Theatre until 18 January. Further information and tickets available here.
