Would-be detectives, can you solve this simple mystery? Which of British crime writer extraordinaire Agatha Christie’s 66 novels is her best seller?
If you’ve plumped for one featuring St Mary Mead’s most famous resident, Miss Marple, or her crime-fighting colleague, Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot, then you’re as busted as the many, many murderers they’ve flushed out of hiding.
In fact, it’s And Then There Were None (trust us, do not look up the original title), one of Christie’s handful of books featuring no recurring characters. That’s because there aren’t many left standing after a group of ten perfect strangers are summoned to a mysterious, storm-lashed island and promptly accused of murder most horrid.
As gripping a whodunnit as it’s possible to be, the tightly-plotted head-scratcher has long captivated readers the world over. Unsurprisingly, it’s been adapted oodles of times, including multiple films, radio and TV shows, including being spoofed on Family Guy.
Well, hold on to your alibis, because stage and screen luminary Robyn Nevin kicks off a new national tour of Christie’s play at Melbourne’s hallowed Comedy Theatre. Nevin has form, having previously steered Christie’s The Mousetrap, also produced by John Frost for Crossroads Live, to great success. And she has a spectacular cast on hand to bring the accused to (quite probably temporary) life.
Deadloch actor Mia Morrissey, who also depicted Mimi Marquez in Rent, is Vera Claythorne, a PE teacher at an all-girls school. Legendary The Sound of Music star Nicholas Hammond is retired general John Mackenzie, with Death of a Salesman actor Tom Stokes as soldier Philip Lombard. The Mousetrap actor Jack Bannister, who pops up in Aussie horror movie Birdeater, is wealthy socialite Anthony Marsten, with Eden Falk (Gallipoli) as Doctor Armstrong.
Jennifer Flowers (The Lady in the Van) is pious spinster Emily Brent and Anthony Phelan (Seven Types of Ambiguity) is retired judge Sir Lawrence Wargrave. End of the Rainbow lead Christen O’Leary is the cook, Mrs Rogers, with Brendan Ewing as her husband, Mr Rogers the butler. Plus Neighbours alum Peter O’Brien is former cop turned private investigator William Blore, but can he figure out exactly what’s going on? And what does Fred Narracott (Chris Parker), the sailor who ferries them to their deaths, know about the island’s mysterious owners?
If you’re dying to find out, snap up tickets to Christie’s darkest tale of twisted fates over here.
Want more? Discover the best of Melbourne theatre and musicals this month.
