And Then There Were None

And Then There Were None

Written by Agatha Christie

Performed by Exeter Little Theatre Company at The Barnfield Theatre

on Tuesday 25th June 2024

Directed by Gill Cree

Assistant Director - Alice Potter

 

Ten little Soldier Boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine.
Nine little Soldier Boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight.
Eight little Soldier Boys travelling in Devon; One said he'd stay there and then there were seven.

Seven little Soldier Boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.
Six little Soldier Boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.
Five little Soldier Boys going in for law; One got in Chancery and then there were four.
Four little Soldier Boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.
Three little Soldier Boys walking in the zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there were two.
Two little Soldier Boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was one.

One little Soldier Boy left all alone; He went out and hanged himself and then there were none!

 

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First published on 6th November 1939  and written by the Queen of Crime herself, Agatha Christie, ‘And Then There Were None’ is her most frequently adapted book and was initially adapted for the stage by the lady herself. It has even been turned into a PC Game in 2005.

Christie is quoted as saying ‘It was so difficult to do and yet it fascinated me’! Based on an 1869 Minstrel song ‘Ten Little Indians’ it is the story of ten strangers, invited to Soldier Island, an isolated island off the Devon coast, by a Mr and Mrs U.N. Owens (unknown) who are puzzling absent.

This impossible yet fascinating story is now the basis of many modern horror stories as we watch each character arrive on the island and then, one by one, meet their demise. They have each been accused of a dreadful crime by a strange voice heard via the playing of a gramophone record.

With an open stage, the audience were greeted by a cleverly created set, built by the company,  which consisted of a perfectly created 1939 living room with rear of stage, patio doors giving access to an outside balcony. With two doors stage right and one stage left, the cast had a large playing space and the ability to move around the stage with ease. An art deco fireplace was positioned front of stage left with 10 little white porcelain soldiers on the mantle, with fireside chairs, a sofa and armchairs of the period in golds and reds placed for the actors to use. With decorated flats and solid doors, there were also working wall-lights, central ceiling light and standard lamp which was used to great affect by the lighting crew throughout.   

We meet Rogers, the man-servant of the house dressed in black trousers, black waistcoat and white shirt busily preparing for expected guests to arrive. Played by an actor with good stage presence and a natural devon accent, he is oblivious of the events about to unfold. Mrs Rogers, in black skirt, black blouse and full-length white apron, a constant worrier and employed as a cook, along with her husband only a week ago by letter. The actor portraying Mrs Roger’s is believable and a very experienced performer.

Mr and Mrs Owens secretary, Vera Claythorne, arrives along with Captain Philip Lombard brought over on a boat from the mainland by Fred Narracott.  I loved the natural cohesion between Vera and Lombard, her playing hard to get and he continually trying to persuade her of his feelings. N.B (The end of this adaptation was changed to allow a happy ending and their love to blossom) rather than Vera hanging herself as per the rhyme above ‘he went out and hanged himself and then there were none’.

Davis but really William Henry Blore, bounces on to the stage, falsely portraying a south- african business man and with a great accent too. He is eventually discovered to be the ex-detective Blore with his strong cockney accent, who runs a private detective agency out of Plymouth. This was an excellent performance by a very watchable performer. The actor playing Anthony Marston, a reckless and cocksure toff, accused of killing two young children when speeding, is lovely to watch, with clear diction and perfectly dastardly. As opposed to the quietly controlled poise of General Mackenzie who is brilliantly contained even when losing control as he tells the truth of his deed. A lovely portrayal indeed. Emily Brent, a pious spinster, spitefully cruel and judgmental, is depicted well by this actor. Brent, accused of causing her pregnant maid’s suicide, is a religious egoist and yet, subconsciously, is aware of her cruelty. This is shown very subtly by the actor’s facial expressions at times.  A nervous Dr Armstrong was perfectly depicted and showed his constant anxiety with his situation as was Sir Lawrence Wargrave, the hanging judge portrayed by a Scottish actor and the perpetrator of this adapted storyline, played with depth and a strong stage presence.

The lighting of this play was exceptionally designed and worked very well. The backdrop of the patio being lit with differing blues and white lights and then lovely pinks and purples representing the sun setting and rising. During the scene where the electricity generator breaks down, I was especially impressed at the clever dimming of lights almost to a point of only candle-light lighting the stage and the actors. Very atmospheric and not easy to achieve.  The use of music by the sound team during the opening of  Act 1 ‘The Sun Has Got it’s Hat On’ was a good touch as were seagulls squawking . Great storm sounds along with lightening effects too.

 Well done indeed to Pippa Hill who dressed this production using great thought and detail. Vera in her blue suit, white blouse, T-bar court shoes, carrying a blue and cream vanity bag of the period, with hair in ringlets. Capt. Philip Lombard wearing a smart grey single breasted three-piece suit with a white shirt and red tie. Anthony Marston in cream trousers, polo shirt, jacket then his white evening jacket, black bow tie and shirt. Blore’s checked jacket, rust-coloured waistcoat, cravat, and white and brown brogues. The dowdy Emily Brent  in a green jacket, grey skirt, beige hat and brown vanity case, to name but a few.

The production flowed without incident and was stage managed well during the scene changes. Directed by Gill Cree, ably assisted by Alice Potter, I was excited to review a production from my very favourite author and with such a good cast.  All of the actors involved in this production have acting pedigree and therefore the production was a delight to watch. The audience could follow the complicated story easily however I have no idea who removed the ten white soldiers as each character was killed. I did watch carefully but ‘Then There Were None’!

 

Lyn Burgoyne (Noda representative, District 5, Mid and East Devon)

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