And Then There Were None Theatre Royal Plymouth Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Linda Curtain

There is murder, mystery, and mayhem at the Theatre Royal this week with the arrival of Agatha Christie’s stage play ‘and then there were none’. How great to see the adaptation of Agatha’s 1939 best selling crime novel on stage here in Plymouth so close to the island that inspired her to write the book.

Having not read the book or seen this iconic ‘whodunnit’ I was eager to follow the storyline and see the mystery unfold on the stage. The story is based on eight strangers who are invited to a grand mansion house on the isolated ‘soldier island’ but when hosts Mr & Mrs Owen are detained on the mainland, it is left to the two hotel staff to entertain the guests. Following the evening meal, a record is played but instead of the expected background music, a voice is heard announcing past crimes that each of the guests and the two hotel staff have been involved in but for which justice has never been served. The guests all try to explain their previous actions and pronounce their innocence but as they all start to die, panic and alarm grows as the remaining guests try to solve the mystery.

In true Agatha style, the play has so many twists and turns. The background repetition of the nursery song ‘Ten Little Soldiers’ continues throughout the play with ten glass soldiers on the dining table gradually disappearing as the characters meet their untimely deaths.

Each character had their own role to play and the stage experience of the cast really shone through. Katie Stephens played the character of Emily Brent – a very believable character with a well delivered background story. Judge Wargrave played by David Yelland was a very commanding character obviously used to being in control. Andrew Lancel as William Blore was outstanding. Such a good sense of comedy timing. General Mackenzie was played very sensitively by Jeffery Kissoon and his mental decline was so emotional. Joseph Beattie played the somewhat arrogant, high energy Philip Lombard brilliantly and bewildered secretary Vera Claythorne was played excellently by Sophie Walter who worked hard to keep the group together in the absence of Mr & Mrs Owen. Hotel staff Jane Pinchbeck and Georgina Rogers were played by Nicola May-Taylor and Lucy Tregear and the chemistry between them was great. Bob Barrett as Doctor Armstrong, Oliver Clayton as Anthony Marston and Matt Weyland as Fred Narracott all added such good background stories with their superb acting skills.

Lucy Bailey has directed this production brilliantly working with such a large cast in quite a small stage area. The way that some of the background stories were enacted behind an ever moving gauze curtain was very effective.

Chris Davey’s lighting added great atmosphere and tension to the scenes adding a feeling of panic and claustrophobia as the guests tried to escape from their ultimate deaths.

Mike Britton’s set designs were innovative – the sloping stage depicting the beach and coast line was very effective.
Agatha Christie’s scripts never cease to please with suspense and clever twists throughout – the total silence of the audience last evening certainly showed the intensity of the performance.

A great storyline packed with murder, tension and fear delivered by a very talented cast.

https://theatreroyal.com/whats-on/and-then-there-were-none/
Rating: 5/5
Tickets from £22
And Then There Were None is at the Theatre Royal Plymouth until 16th March 2024
To book your seats or for more information visit theatreroyal.com.