Go Back for Murder

“Go back for murder” is adapted from Agatha Christie’s book “Five little pigs” and was one of the series of featured Hercule Poirot cases oft repeated on Sky TV. In fact, I believe it was shown during the week the play was produced at the Little Theatre.   

Despite only five suspects, Mrs. Christie, as usual, puts a ring through the reader's nose and leads him/her to one of her brilliant last-minute showdowns. The Presentation being more intricate than usual, and the characterization subtler: All in all, it is beautifully crafted and cleverly plotted. However, Mrs Christie not only changed the title for the play but also removed the character of Hercule Poirot entirely replacing him with a young lawyer, Justin Fogg; son of the lawyer who led the original murder case.

Not having the length of the printed page or the scope of a TV production the play needed some trimming but little of the original story was missing. Act 1 established the need to investigate the truth behind a 16-year-old murder and brought the characters to light: Act 2 brought us to the actual time of the crime its execution and final denouement.

David Tolcher the Director got the most out of his cast and whilst the nature of the piece might have led to a lack of pace he did not allow this to happen. As for the characters, they were very much in keeping with Mrs. Christie’s description, catching the flavour of people who in accordance with their role in the events acted out their own agenda.  

Holly Trentham as Caroline/Carla Crayle the instigator of the plot to ascertain whether her Mother was really guilty had a stronger part than in the original book and TV drama and did it well both as the daughter and later in retrospect her own mother. The brothers Blake (David Swift and Steve Williams) were much in accordance with the authors view of them; different as brothers often are. Tanya Wood played the “villain” of the piece, Elsa Melksham. Determined and ruthless in her quest to marry Amyas Crayle she is the real murderess and in killing Amyas destroys her own life.  We did not see Amyas Crayle (Gareth Crawshaw) until act 2. but his performance did not disappoint. He captured the character of the driven artist for whom painting is the overriding factor in his existence leading to the eventual tragedy.

Lauren Blackeway made a fine fist of Susan Warren Caroline Crayle’s sister; scarred for life  as a child  in an act of bad temper by her sister she is by the time of the play a teenager given to fits of temper and practical jokes who unwittingly provides a catalyst which leads to murder. Susan Braddock is Miss Williams her typical tutor/nanny who in her desire to help the accused wife withholds the one piece of evidence which might have ensured her acquittal Can romance flourish in the midst of all this?

Yes, it can! Mark Latham provides it in his role as the son of the original solicitor in the case who takes up Carla’s challenge to find the truth. We mainly see him as the sort of master of ceremonies in act 2

where he continues to supplement his role in act 1 and eventually wins the hand of Carla.  Brian Dickson and Marc Smith fulfilled their supporting roles very well, seldom seen but nevertheless effective.

The Carlton players are fortunate to have a strong backstage team who once again proved their worth in support of their onstage players. Enjoyed the show very much.

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