And then there were none

This is classic Agatha Christie and what a joy to see it done so well under the eagle eye of Maris McCann. A truly excellent set from the team, substantial on the two levels, and well dressed.    I must applaud the atmospheric sound effects as background.

An excellent cast, all so strong in performance, and all well chosen for their character roles, what a great team in one society.   As Mr and Mrs Rogers (Chris Morter and Joan Hocking) set the scene for the guests in their domestic roles, there is this feeling that the weekend visitors will not experience the normal seaside atmosphere.   It is so long since I saw the play that I had forgotten what would take place as the weather deteriorated and the island totally isolated.

The boats brought in the invited guests and it turned out that not all were exactly as they seemed.  Beth Robertson as Vera Claythorne the secretary who had the arrangements in hand, but did she have a hidden story, this probably the biggest role I have seen her in and very dramatic as time went on.   In the same boat Tom Key as Philip Lombard, the joker in the pack, upsetting some more stable characters, he had been around the world and done all kinds of things, always such a strong actor and a role to relish.   A lesser role for Jon Moule as Anthony Marston, and he did not survive long in this adventure.   Jack Morter arrived in guise of South African wealthy under one name, and changed name to William Blore, turned out to be police, and was he looking for suspects.   A very outgoing character who crossed swords with Lombard when both fancied the girl.    I loved Richard Crawley as General Mackenzie, always such a positive and polished character actor, and not looking for the positive situation.   The heavy tweed suit and knitting went so well for Jennie Reavey as the moralising Emily Brent as she was shocked by some of her fellow visitors.   Laurence Barnett as Dr Armstrong, full of nerves and worries, especially in the light of all these bodies piling up.   And taking command of the stage, dominating in the later stages of action, Paul Woodhouse as Sir Lawrence Wargrave, the judge.  Did he really know how to tempt the party to reveal all those hidden secrets which led on to resulting deaths.  This was the perfect dream team of strong actors interacting into this well known classic.

The tensions and relationships built up, to give some quite fraught moments and really had the audience on the edge of the seats, as we waited for the next dramatic moment to reveal.    Luckily I had forgotten the ending and so was captured by this excellent production.

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