A Murder is Announced
Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells
28th March – 2nd April 2022
Adapted by Leslie Darbon
Directed by Michael Lunney
In the village of Chipping Cleghorn an announcement mysteriously appears in the personal column of the local paper declaring that a murder will take place at 6:30pm on Friday 13th (of course) at Little Paddocks, the home of Letitia Blacklock (Barbara Wilshere).
At first it’s dismissed as a prank by Letitia and everyone else, apart from her companion Dora Bunner (Karen Drury) — Letitia’s main concern is that the house will be descended upon by nosey neighbours.
Well, it’s not exactly a spoiler to say that a murder does indeed take place and so we’re off and running with a stock cast of Christie characters and a plot where nothing or no one are what they seem. And with everyone’s favourite busybody Miss Marple (Sarah Thomas) just happening to be in the area, you just know that things are going to get stickier before they get better.
However, it all gets a bit confusing. I’m not about to accuse the Queen of Crime of over-plotting, but the problem lies with adapting for the stage. There are numerous characters integral to the story who we never meet, they just happen to be in Switzerland or the South of France. Whereas this can be better explained on the page or on screen (there have been numerous TV adaptations), the restriction of the stage results in lots of exposition from the cast explaining who these people are and their relevance. It doesn’t quite kill the pace but when one character remarks, “I don’t know who anyone is anymore” you’re inclined to agree.
That said, as the deliciously twisting and turning series of events unfolds, every seemingly insignificant line or use of a prop could be a clue, or a red herring.
And it’s all carried off with wonderful aplomb by a first-rate cast, headed by Sarah Thomas as an excellent Jane Marple. Thankfully Tom Butcher as Inspector Craddock isn’t made the figure of fun that some writers often make the policeman when faced with Miss Marple’s razor sharp intelligence. There are nice performances from Lucy Evans and Will Huntington as the flighty and flirty brother and sister Julia and Patrick Simmons. And there’s a delightful turn from Lydia Piechowiak as Letitia’s fiery Eastern European maid Mitzi.
One for Christie fans certainly and even better if, like me, you didn’t know whodunnit.
Reviewer: Tony Peters