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Murder, magic and mayhem
The Secret Adversary
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
**** A COMPANY of
seven actor/musicians tackles 22 roles in this new adaption of Agatha
Christie’s first full-length novel from 1920. It stars the sleuthing talents of the ‘Young
Adventurers’ Tommy and Tuppence – aka Mr Thomas Beresford (Garmon Rhys)
and Miss Prudence Cowley (Emerald O’Hanrahan). The story so far
involves a lost treaty, many red herrings, a lady called Jane Fish, the
sinking of the In 2015 terms, a quick look back at the post- WW1
world of the Ritz, the Candlelight Club and the closest the world has
ever been to global revolution in the wake of the Bolshevik revolution,
Ireland in uproar, 2 million souls hungry and out of work, promised ‘a
land fit for heroes’ the parallels make for uneasy viewing. Seven actor/musicans seemingly could do
everything, Sophie Scott plays Jane Fish, a French maid called Annette
plus sax and piano, Kieran Buckeridge plays piano and Julius, American
millionaire on the hunt for his cousin kidnapped in Britain, Nigel
Lister plays Sir James, well-heeled diplomat and all-round ‘good egg’,
Morgan Philpott does the magic tricks, and plays Whittington, assumed to
be the ‘baddie’, and Major Domo at the Ritz (wonderfully), Elizabeth
Marsh sings, plays piano, flute, sax and also Marguerite (Rita) van de
Meyer cabaret star at London’s Candlelight Club. They worked hard as did the set, wonderfully
inventive moments include a truly amazingly timed chase scene through
over and under the set with false directions handled incredibly well in
a small space, a ‘moving’ keyhole to view the main protagonists of the
British ‘Revolution’. The treaty is the real star, it finally makes its
appearance at the denouement only for the master magician to ‘disappear’
it just as fast. Adapted and directed by Sarah Punshon and Johann
Hari this The Watermill West Berkshire Playhouse Production is a
fast-moving, energetic show with so much to recommend it. It is inventive, rich and brings many elements of
theatre to the fore. Basically, in taking Agatha Christie’s great story
and adapting it for the stage, the results bring to life two main
characters who appear again and again in Christie’s books. Tommy and Tuppence are a charming, likeable pair
and the touching moments are built beautifully as they both realise
their affection and love for each other. As ever with a Christie story,
it’s the human elements that make it. Lovely. To 02-04-14. Jane Howard
28-04-15
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