Agatha Christies Go Back For Murder Review

Go Back For Murder
by Agatha Christie

Richmond Theatre

Reviewed by Sarah Banbury

This is a new production by The Official Agatha Christie Theatre Company who every year start a  tour of one of the plays by the bestselling fiction author of all time, in Windsor, before taking it across the country. Go Back For Murder was first performed in 1960 and this production, set in 1968, sees the young Caroline Le Marchant trying to find out the truth about her father’s death, twenty years earlier. In the first act we see her as an adult meeting those present at his country house when he died and them retelling their version of events, before they all ‘Go Back’ to the scene of the crime in the second act, set in 1948.

Carla is played by the familiar face of Sophie Ward and other well known actors from television and film include Liza Goddard (Bergerac, Woof!), Robert Duncan (Drop the Dead Donkey) and Ben Nealon (Soldier, Soldier).  Lysette Anthony (Three up, Two Down) also stars as Elsa Greer, giving an amazing performance both of a nineteen year old temptress and a thrice married, Chanel – suited Lady. The two time periods make this play a little different and hold the interest, particularly with Sophie Ward also playing the part of Carla’s mother, Caroline Crale. Her solicitor, Justin Fogg (Ben Nealon) links the two settings with his narration and the use of flashing lights to show the ‘flashback’.

I thoroughly enjoyed this play; I’ve seen a couple of Agatha Christie's in the theatre as well as of course the television productions and this was just as enthralling. The story was adapted from the original novel Five Little Pigs and despite watching a television production of it in the past I could not remember ‘who dunnit’ and like Carla and Justin was watching for the discrepancies in the witnesses statements. I would recommend it to anyone who likes the genre; there are moments of humour, drama and a little romance thrown in as well.

Richmond Theatre is situated on the Green in Richmond upon Thames and easily served by local buses and the underground and rail services at the station a few minutes’ walk away. Car Parking is the same distance in the opposite direction at the Deer Park and is free after 630pm. Disabled parking is available on the street nearer the Theatre. Our seats in the stalls had a clear view of the whole stage. Show tickets range from £11.90 to £37.90 depending on your seats and I feel represent good value for money. Go Back For Murder runs here until Saturday 29th June, when there is also a matinee performance, before continuing its national tour in Bradford, Milton Keynes, Wimbledon, Brighton, Torquay, Woking, Glasgow and Birmingham.

Rating: 4/5

For more information or to book tickets click here.