Let’s Kill Agatha Christie — REVIEW

This is a slight variation on Genesian Theatre’s  Agatha Christie repertoire;  Christie is in the title but she is not the author, nor is she really in the story. It’s all part of the quirky, twisty plot of Let’s Kill Agatha Christie, the latest offering from the Genesian company. 

Prudence Sykes (Caitlyn Clancy) is an aspiring murder-mystery author, whose self-funded 20 or so novels have been received tepidly at best by the public and critics. 

In true Christie style, Prudence invites several friends to her large, tackily decorated home for a weekend, the purpose of which is undisclosed. The guests, it turns out, know each other but there is little affection among them. 

Sir Frederick Belting (Theo Hatzistergos) is a portly, obnoxious, self-made millionaire who drives a Rolls Royce. Marjory Field (Natalie Reid), writes poetry which is syndicated in several large newspapers and earns her fame and fortune — something that seems inexplicable once we hear her recite one of her verses. 

John Hartley-Miles (Bryan Smith) is a debonair and very popular actor, albeit a little awkward and hopelessly vain. 

These three and Prudence were apparently all ambitious rivals in their youth, and they parted ways after having set a four-way challenge to see who would truly become successful. Only Prudence, it seems, has failed. 

When Sir Frederick, Marjory, and John stumble upon a copy of Prudence’s latest manuscript, rather suspiciously placed in plain sight, they discover the reason she has invited them all. Three characters in the novel are thinly disguised versions of Frederick, Marjory, and John, and each is given a description that gives away a very real, unsavoury truth about them. 

Is this blackmail? A murder mid-way through Act 1 complicates things. 

This is a fun and unpredictable play with a delightful bunch of characters. In addition to those already named: Tombs the butler (Peter J Donnelly), unflappable, sardonic, and slightly mischievous; Gladys the maid (Andrea Blight), ungainly, guileless, and fretful; Angela Teal (Denise Kitching), Prudence’s assistant, stoic, meticulous and faithful; Inspector Murray (Brendan Layton), affable if hapless; PC Crockett (Harry Lewis), endearingly youthful and conscientious. 

This cast, without exception, is faultless, embodying their respective personas with confidence. Gregory George’s set design is functional yet creates the right nostalgic feel. Susan Carveth’s costumes are gorgeous and commensurate with each character. The lighting and sound by Michael Schell help add the right degree of atmosphere, tension and comic relief. 

Author, Anthony Hinds, was a British screenwriter whose father founded the famous horror/thriller film studio, Hammer Film Productions, in 1934. Hinds wrote many scripts for the genre. The facetious, Let’s Kill Agatha Christie was written in 1990 as a piece for amateur theatre — and it is thoroughly enjoyable. 

Until June 8

Friday & Saturday, 7.30pm; Sunday 4.30pm

Genesian Theatre, 420 Kent St, Sydney

www.genesiantheatre.com.au