Murder On The Nile The Agatha Christie Theatre Company Hall for Cornwall

Review by Lee Trewhela

TWO years ago this company, with producer Bill Kenwright, staged Witness For The Prosecution at the HfC.

It was a superb production, twisting, turning and keeping the audience guessing until the end, complete with some topnotch acting, bringing the stultified times in Christie's work to life.

Unfortunately, Murder On The Nile was a huge disappointment after that masterpiece.

A verbose first half (all that clever-clever 1940s banter) meant it took an age for the murder in question and by then I didn't really care who carked it, although it was obvious who the victim would be. Despite the clever Nile paddle steamer set and some thrilling Egyptian-themed music, the play failed to set sail despite a winning turn from Denis Lill as Canon Pennefather, a sort of Poirot with issues. Lill, who was also a standout in Witness, saved this from being a complete flop. There were also amusing turns from Kate O'Mara as a bigoted social climber and newcomer Max Hutchinson as her nemesis, an opinionated socialist, who may not be all he seems (which goes for half the characters). However, at times it veered into amateur dramatics and when the denouement finally came it could be seen from as far away as Luxor.

The play continues until Saturday.