The Hollow
Information
- Date
- 16th February 2023
- Society
- Woolgatherers of Heswall
- Venue
- Little Theatre Birkenhead
- Type of Production
- Play
- Director
- Jenny Stock
- Assistant Director
- Chery Bullen
- Sound/lighting
- Sheri Jones
- Producer
- Jenny Stock
- Written By
- Agatha Christie
The Hollow
Woolgathers
16/2/23
Sixty two years since it debuted in Cambridge, Agatha Christie's The Hollow is back on-stage courtesy of The Woolgathers dramatic society. Follow the Angkatell family as they fight for love, revenge and money in this classic Christie murder mystery.
The Angkatell family are invited to The Hollow, where Sir Henry and Lucy Angkatell host their cousins, Henrietta, Edward and John and his wife Gerda.
The action centres upon the tumultuous personal life of John Christow (Mark Latham) a Harley Street doctor and inveterate womaniser. His nondescript, unassuming wife Gerda (Kate Maddock), his mistress Henrietta Angkatell (Katy Downs). However, when John's old flame, the fiery Hollywood star, Veronica Craye, arrives, the only solution can be murder! Luckily Inspector Colquohoun is on the case, and he'll uncover more family secrets than just the solution to this crime...
With witty characters, shock twists and one of Christie's trademark ingenious solutions, The Hollow is the perfect excitement for a winter evening
Carys Cooper as Lady Angkatell; arguably Christie's finest comic grande dame certainly, had a ball giving a comedic performance as the outwardly eccentric and slightly batty lady of the manor beautifully conveying her character’s excitement at having a corpse in her living room, and the thrill of attending her very first inquest.
I also loved the endearing way she popped a sweet into her husband’s mouth! Lovely performance.
Terry Collister as Sir Henry Angkatell gave a charming believable performance artfully conveyed his loving tolerance of his quirky wife, Lady Angkatell.
Katy Downes gave an extremely semsative and absorbing performance as the talented sculptor Henrietta, mistress to John Christow, and the object of unrequited love of Edward Angkatell (Oliver Adam) her distant cousin. This was a fine performance, Katy
Oliver Adam took on what I consider to be the very difficult role of the anguished Edward Angkatell the audience were all delighted when he found love with Midge. Strong performances also came from Amy Marshall, who plays Midge, another visiting relative caught up in all the commotion and eventually declares her true feelings for Edward.
Kevin Fishwick must, surely, have been born to be a butler?! His Gudgeon was absolutely perfect, bringing just the right degree of servitude plus pomposity to colour his character.
His maid, Doris, a cameo role delightfully played by Helen Brickwood
Jane Gordon (Veronica Craye) arrives at The Hollow, hoping to borrow matches, after some flirtatious banter in front of Gerda and other guests, she invites John to her home, after he has dinner with the group, only for him to return in the early hours of the morning. Jane really relished this role.
This is where things get very complicated, as famiy secrets are revealed.
Tales around John's behaviour come to light, his womanising ways even with Henrietta are a revelation and the build-up all becomes too much for one person. Off stage, you hear a gunshot, John eventually collapses on the floor in the sitting room, losing blood and slipping away, overlooked by the other guests Gerda is standing over him holding the gun. But who would go as far as to shoot John?
Enter Inspector Colquhoun (Phillip Murray) and his trusty Sergeant Penny (Linda Nuttall).
Good sleuthing from two talented actors.
To take on an Agatha Christie play takes courage, she is so well known, her reputation for accuracy is legendary, the sitting room of The Hollows worked well. However more care is needed with costume, it needs to be spot on regarding era. It was slightly confusing as to what era the action is taking place (coloured plastic hair grips, hair scrunch) Sir Henry dressed for dinner, bow tie etc, that would have been standard for the gentlemen at that time. Lady Angkatell was the only cast member wearing a mike, it was so distracting, this may seem picky however if one wears a mike, they should all wear one, to balance voice delivery.
The Director (Jane Stock) assisted by Cheryl Bullen gave us a very entertaining evening, this being the first time the Woolgathers have had a production on at the Little Theatre. The audience loved it, which is what it’s all about.
Well done to all concerned.
Joanne Rymer
The Woolgathers
District 4
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