Spider's Web, by Agatha Christie, Belgrade Theatre,till 5th September

Coventry and touring

The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
Bill Kenwright presents
The Agatha Christie Theatre Company’s
Spider's Web by Agatha Christie
Belgrade Theatre: Tkts 024 7655 3055
www.belgrade.co.uk
Runs: 2h, 30m: one interval: till 5th September 2009
Start: 7.45: Saturday Matinee, 2.30pm
Review: Jan Pick
1.9.09

Oh what a tangled web we weave …….
Solid gold entertainment is to be found at the Belgrade this week with Bill Kenwright’s Agatha Christie Company’s production of ‘Spider’s Web’ and full marks to the cast on an action packed opening night as they sailed smoothly over the technical glitches, pulling out all the stops to give their audience a thrilling and enjoyable evening.

You know where you are with an Agatha Christie; twists and turns and unexpected happenings, with a satisfying denouement just before the final curtain. ‘Spider’s Web’, set in the early 1950s opens in the country house of the Hailsham-Browns. When the heroine, Clarissa, discovers a dead body in her drawing-room, she tries to dispose of it before her Foreign Office diplomat husband returns home with a government VIP guest in tow. The resulting tangle of deception, intrigue and desperate cover-up delivers the requisite fun and thrills of this age-proof piece of theatre.

Melanie Gutteridge makes an engaging Clarissa, expertly supported by Bruce Montague as her shrewd and sensible guardian, Sir Roland Delahaye, with Mark Wynter as the dithery but well-meaning Hugo Birch and Ben Nealon as the likeable young Jeremy Warrender.

There is not a weak link in this cast – even the smaller roles are played exceptionally well, particularly Simon Cole’s eagerly conscientious Welsh constable, and Michael Gabe as the very sinister butler, Elgin. Special mention also has to be made of Karen Elliot who was totally believable as the very young, ever-hungry Pippa, the daughter of the house. Add in Denis Lill as the doughty Inspector in charge of unravelling the farrago of lies invented by the desperate Clarissa, Catherine Shipton’s jolly hockey-sticks Mildred the gardener, and, last but not least Matthew Hebden as the smarmy villain who manages to get himself murdered most inconveniently, and all the ingredients for a splendid night out are in place.

Played on one set – a beautiful recreation of a country house drawing room, complete with French windows and secret recesses – excellently directed by Joe Harmston, we watch the events unfold and in true Christie style are kept guessing until the end.

Cast
Inspector Lord: Denis Lill
Clarissa Hailsham-Brown: Melanie Gutteridge
Mildred Peake: Catherine Shipton
Jeremy Warrender: Ben Nealon
Sir Rowland Delahaye: Bruce Montague
Hugo Birch: Mark Wynter
Pippa Hailsham-Brown: Karen Elliot
Elgin: Michael Gabe
Henry Hailsham-Brown: Lucas Hare
Oliver Costello: Matthew Hebden
Constable Jones: Simon Cole

Director: Joe Harmston
Designer: Simon Scullion
Lighting Designer: Mark Howett
Costume Designer/Supervisor: Brigid Guy
Sound Designer: Ian Horrocks-Taylor
Company Stage Manager: Paul Murphy
DSM: Gemma Wilks
ASM: Cassandra Lyons
Wardrobe Mistress: Amanda Ozdonmez
Props Buyer: Lindah Balfour
Deputy Costume Supervisor: Jules Bottrill

2009-09-06 12:47:34