Stuart Wishart, left, Rebecca Wilbrooke, Tony Newbould, Joan Wakeman and
Katy Ball
The Mirror Crack'd
The Nonentities
The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster
****
The Mirror Crack’d is one Agatha
Christie’s later novels, set in the very early 1960s in the village of
Saint Mary Mead home to Miss Marple, and where a huge Hollywood star
Marina Gregg (Laura Pearson) is trying to make a comeback.
Pearson is most believable as American Hollywood
has-been Marina and dominates her scenes ably assisted by her doting
husband and film director Jason (played by Richard Taylor)
Without giving away too many spoilers, during a
party at Marina Gregg‘s manor house, which used to belong to Miss
Marple’s friend Dolly, (portrayed confidently by Katy Ball) a local
woman Heather Leigh (Jo Rush) is murdered by a poisoned strawberry
daiquiri.
We find out very quickly that perhaps Heather was
not the intended victim and it’s up to Chief Inspector Craddock aided by
Miss Marple to try and unravel the mystery and solve the case,
It’s very much about the modern world of the
1960s. Times are changing. Girls are wearing trousers and supermarkets
sell everything under one roof, including walking sticks!
Adapted for the stage by Rachel Wagstaff Miss
Marple isn’t the kind of sweet old lady that we’ve been used to. She is
a real person who is nursing an injured ankle following a fall and
therefore, is separated from the events and there is a sense that life
is passing her by.
Joan Wakeman a Miss Marple, Laura Pearson as Marina, Jo Rush as Heather
and Richard Taylor a film
director husband, Jason
Joan Wakeman steps in to the role of Miss Marple
with such ease you imagine the part was written for her. It’s a tough
act to follow when you consider all the big names who have played the
ageing sleuth before but Wakeman is more than able and delivers a most
convincing performance.
Chief Inspector Craddock, played perfectly with
tolerated acceptance of Miss Marple’s involvement by Stuart Wishart
believes that someone actually intended to poison the famous American
actress whose party it was, and the detective pair embark on a thrilling
challenge to work out who was the murderer.
I couldn’t help thinking that Stuart Wishart
reminded me of someone and then it came to me. He has the look and
mannerisms of comedian Tim Vine, although not played for laughs there is
humour in his frustration when Miss Marple gives him guidance on how to
run the investigation while he constantly reminds people he’s not an
Inspector but ‘Chief’ Inspector.
The murder of Heather is seen from three or four
different perspectives each of them a slightly different interpretation
of the crime which means the audience gets to play along to spot those
differences.
Directed by David Wakeman, the choreography of
the characters as they appear and disappear on and off stage keeps the
story moving at a pace and you’re constantly being kept on your toes as
the plot twists keep on coming in abundance.
As always at the Rose the staging is superb, the
clever set design and lighting allows the action to nimbly jump from one
flashback to another.
One moment we’re in Miss Marple’s cottage then
next we’re on the film set of a Hollywood blockbuster.
There are moments of hilarity throughout, many
supplied by the occasional interruptions of the deceased’s husband Cyril
played by Tony Newbould who although he has something important to say
is constantly ignored.
Expect a proper Agatha Christie whodunnit There
may be seven suspects but there’s only one Miss Marple.
Alan Birch
23-11-15
The Nonentities
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