Sleuth at Princess Theatre Torquay Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Helen Wyatt
I had the pleasure of reviewing Sleuth at the Princess Theatre Torquay last night, written by Anthony Shaffer, which is advertised as a dark psychological “thriller about thrillers” and “an intriguing study of human conflict, jealousy, and manipulation”.
That’s pretty much all you are told as you take your seat, and then when the curtain rises you are faced with a beautifully designed and presented set, representing an old manor house complete with fireplace, staircase and landing, ancient Egyptian artefacts, a grandfather clock, leaded windows and much, much, more. The show only takes place in the manor house, so no set changes are required, but the detail is impressive and really sets the scene. There was one very large and obvious prop which appeared to have little to do with the actual story, despite the focus on it in the first act, which could have been a bit distracting, however the excellent acting drew your attention away.
The story starts with a young man arriving to this rather impressive manor house to meet a famous mystery writer, however he is then drawn into a “tangled web of intrigue and gamesmanship, where nothing is quite what it seems”. To reveal much more about the story than that would be to give away the plot, but the whole 2 hours of the show is full of twists and turns, confusion and comedy, mystery and murder (or is it?).
The show has just two actors:
Todd Boyce who is well known for playing the baddie Stephen Reid in ITV’s Coronation Street amongst a host of other acting accolades. Todd plays the famous mystery writer Andrew, living in the manor house. Todd’s grasp of this character was spot on and he draws you in to be both endeared to him and to even possibly hate him at times. His acting is beautifully natural and that of a seasoned professional, bringing 3D life to what clearly on paper could be a stuffy two dimensional character, which his plummy tones and
Neil McDermott who you may have seen as Ryan Malloy on EastEnders for the BBC, amongst an equally impressive list of other theatre and TV shows. Neil plays the young man, entering the home of the famous mystery writer, and is just perfect for the role. He holds his space well playing Milo, alongside Todd’s Andrew, and their comedic timing together is extremely enjoyable.
The story takes you on a twisting and turning ride of mystery and intrigue, played only by Boyce and McDermott, and you are genuinely kept guessing right up until the end. I don’t think I would really describe it as a true thriller, as I certainly wasn’t on the edge of my seat, but it was an extremely enjoyable mystery from start to end. It’s quite a timeless show, and we were wondering when it was actually supposed to be set. At one point it is clear that it is set in the 1970s however really it could have been set at any point in time and still work just as well.
Princess Theatre Torquay is a beautiful theatre set on the seafront, and still retains much of its old charm in the auditorium despite clearly having been upgraded recently. The seats are comfortable and there is reasonable legroom, unlike some other theatres, and the facilities and good. All staff that we encountered were friendly and helpful, and it was easy to get in to have your tickets and bags checked before taking your seat. We found parking easily out the front of the theatre, but there is also a large carpark a short walk away. If you wanted something to eat before the show you could grab something in the theatre itself, however there are several eateries close by to avail yourself of.
All in all this is a great show with fantastic acting and a beautiful set. Shaffer’s Sleuth ran for 12 years in London and New York and is now being toured around the country. I would highly recommend seeing it!
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £13 plus £3.80 transaction fee. Sleuth is at Princess Theatre Torquay from 19 to 24 February 2024. For more information or to book tickets visit https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/sleuth/princess-theatre-torquay/
atgtickets.com/torquay
Princess Theatre Torquay, Torbay Road, Torquay TQ2 5EZ