And Then There Was None

This well-directed play started with darkness and soft atmospheric music which had the audience anticipating suspense! As we sat in the dark, I was waiting for something to happen which would make us all jump. It didn’t happen there but the shots later in the performance nearly had me sitting on the lap of the poor man next to me. I mention this now as this is how engrossed we all were; we could see that the gun was going to be fired, but it still made us all jump.

For those of us that know the story of Agatha Christie’s novel it is always interesting to see what version is going to be chosen and therefore can never assume we know who did it, until the end.

As expected, there were eight house guests and two staff who slowly get killed off leaving the final couple to solve the mystery. The principals were well cast, and each made the character their own. Howard Owen and Amanda Smith were the butler and cook respectively and Amanda’s near hysteria was very well portrayed and Howard came across as the slightly bewildered man who was just following instructions.

Hannah Vaughan, I thought, stayed in character throughout as the nervous and anxious secretary who had falsely been accused of letting her young charge drown. Phil Field played the slightly supercilious hero and whilst he too was innocent of his supposed crime, came across as someone who didn’t care what anyone else thought of him. Tom Lee-Hynes wasn’t on for long as he was killed off early on, but he portrayed the rich spoilt young man who, having caused the deaths of two children, blamed them for daring to get in his way. A thoroughly unlikeable character well played. Tim Betts was the guest who turned out to not be South African (good accent) but a retired detective who had been hired for the occasion but who too was bumped off. His portrayal of the slightly officious working-class man came over very well. Alan Chacon played the pompous General who could justify his appalling behavior but who you felt deserved his comeuppance. I liked his bumbling pontifications. Suzanne Hill was excellent as the haughty and rather unpleasant old maid who treated people ‘as they should be’ and had no remorse for the death of a young maid she had turned out when she had got herself in trouble. A perfect performance.

I particularly enjoyed the transformations of Sandy MacNeill as the Doctor and Tony Hearn as the Judge. As the play progressed Sandy’s character became more manic and her hair and dress accentuated this in a subtle way. Whilst Hannah remained nervous all of the time, Sandy slowly unraveled before our eyes from the very accomplished ‘nerve’ doctor to the slightly unhinged patient. Tony Hearn, likewise, started out as the voice of reason and whose character who was going to solve the mystery, but who then became the mad man who had coldly set out to right the wrongs of everyone, except himself. His actions and mannerisms were quite chilling and we were all glad when he was shot (another jolt of the heart) at the end.

As always, the set at the Phoenix was just as much a part of the play as the actors themselves and it felt as if we were sitting in the drawing room with them. They didn’t have to raise their voices too much which made it feel as if we were listening to a conversation, rather than watching a constructed performance. Well done to everyone.

My final mention is for Brian Jackson who had a very small role as the Skipper. Great accent and delivery and we were all pleased to see him at the end. Thank you, Phoenix, for another great play.

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