The Unexpected Guest

A man enters a house through a study window and discovers a dead body and a woman holding a gun. It is from these circumstances that Agatha Christie, novelist, playwright and author of short stories developed her play entitled ‘The Unexpected Guest’. In this play she adopts a format well known to her fans in which she assembles a cast of characters who initially appear to live straightforward law abiding existences. However, as further revelations are made concerning them, all appear to have something to hide which changes their status to that of being a suspect. Such characters are frequently used as ‘red herrings’ to deflect attention from the perpetrator. Lucy Kelley’s sensitive direction ensured that all the characters became suspects in this case which was painstakingly investigated by Inspector Thomas, confidently played by Martin Tyrrell  and ably assisted by Sergeant Cadwallader, played by Gus Sparrow, whose quiet sense of humour added a light touch. There were impressive performances from Suzanne Webb as Laura Warwick, Gary Cadwallader as Michael Starkwedder, Rosemary Gibson as Mrs Warwick, senior, and Jim Burrows as the erratically behaved Jan Warwick. Cecilia Contet as Ms Bennett was the essential spinster, Tony Hine, as Major Julian Farrar, the straying politician. I thought Stuart Hartley as the male nurse was most convincing in his quietly menacing role. Costumes, lighting, set design and construction were all of a high standard. This was a performance well received by an appreciative audience, many of whom I suspect were ardent admirers of the late Agatha Christie. 

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