Death on the Nile
Theatre Royal Brighton
until Saturday 4th April
Adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig
Directed by Lucy Bailey
Settle down audience and prepare yourselves for an evening of pure sparkling entertainment featuring some of the highest production values I’ve seen in quite a while. A superb cast, sumptuous stage work, gorgeous costumes and a fantastically inspiring set. This latest version of one of the renowned Ms Christie’s best loved murder and mayhem novels is a brilliantly adapted version of the original twisty tale. Never a great fan of the writer (sorry!), I have vastly enjoyed the various adaptations on both the small and big screens, not so much the cosy Miss Marple’s series set in sleepy Cotswolds villages, rather the meaty ensemble stories featuring amongst others, remote island mansions, a posh train and a paddle steamer. A bunch of disparate people, all with a secret to hide behind their polite smiles and, crucially, a cold blooded murderer amongst them. Naturally.
Many will be familiar with ‘Death on the Nile’, from the book, TV, or film versions, the Kenneth Branagh blockbusters especially, which utilised a myriad of special effects and big name characters. So to produce and direct a stage version of this calibre was an act of courage. Ken Ludwig and Lucy Bailey definitely went for broke, pulling out all the creative stops to deliver this superlative production – and they definitely succeeded. In spades.
Immediately prior to the opening sequence, we heard a disembodied voice advising us of the housekeeping rules – with a little joke to kick everything off. Delivered in a French (sorry, Belgian!) accent as a nod to our beloved Poirot’s early appearance. Immediately following, we are treated to a marvellous visual experience of smoke, atmospheric lighting and two of the main characters setting the scene, whilst to one side we see Poirot discreetly listening to (so, what’s new?!) their chatter and already forming his own – very rarely indisputable -opinions.
We are soon transported to the interior of the British Museum where the story unfolds a little more, and featuring a giant sarcophagus, which dominates the rear of the stage for most of the play, for although it is naturally impossible to recreate the beautiful outside scenes in Abu Simbel, Luxor and the climb up one of the Pyramids, the sarcophagus serves as a constant symbol of Egypt. Jackie (Esme Hough), the insatiably jealous ex-fiancée of Simon Doyle (Nye Occomore) and his new super wealthy wife Linnet Ridgeway (Libby Alexandra-Cooper) stalks them everywhere they venture. However it is on the paddle steamer that all the action takes place, and the set is an absolutely fabulous inspiration; split level with louvre doors representing rooms and corridors, sliding doors revealing different ‘sets within a set’ works supremely well, thanks to the creative work of Mike Britton. The atmospheric lighting design by Oliver Fenwick, together with the wonderfully realistic sound effects (Mic Pool) giving us a real flavour of sailing down the Nile alternates with some startling noises making us almost jump from our seats, all served up a production which never flags for a single moment.
More of the plot I will not reveal of course, however I must congratulate all the cast here who work together so brilliantly to create this incredible show. Of course, I’m saving a mention of Poirot himself till last…… Following in the footsteps of (most famously) Peter Ustinov, Kenneth Branagh and David Suchet was a tall order, and probably difficult to avoid a degree of caricaturisation, whilst not veering away from the familiar quirky foibles and tropes the famous Belgian detective employs. Mark Hadfield handles these potential pitfalls admirably and with total confidence. It took a little getting used to this new incarnation of dear old Hercules, however I soon warmed to this rather diminutive, somewhat jolly and mischievous character, not averse to the odd witty joke or two with his more serious, ever loyal friend Colonel Race (Bob Barrett).
I was fortunate enough to make my own trip down the River Nile some years back, featuring a stay at the incredibly beautiful Old Cataract Hotel where Christie wrote ‘Death on the Nile’. Her room is left just as it was at the time. So I hold this story quite dear and would not enjoy seeing a less than top quality retelling of it. I was definitely not disappointed, and neither will anyone else be.
A night transported to the great river of Egypt on a paddle steamer, featuring beautiful characters sporting between-the-wars ravishing costumes, with extravagant tastes and larger than life personalities, plus a juicy murder ‘hosted’ by no less than Hercules Poirot on top form. What better way could you spend an evening?
Pure Egyptian magic.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2 hours 20 mins inc interval
Touring
Reviewer: Gill Ranson