Murder on the Nile

Theatre Royal, Bath

Here is another offering from The Agatha Christie Theatre Company, this time one  that has been taken from the 1930s novel Death on the Nile.  It was a big hit in the West End and on Broadway back in the 1940s.

Those who don't know the complications of Christie stories on stage – some of which have been written as plays, some converted from novels by the author herself and yet more converted into plays by someone else –  might be surprised by the lack of Hercule Poirot in this one. Trapping the killer  in Death on the Nile was one of his important cases.

Here though, in a cast not sufficiently large to break the bank,  the man with the little grey cells   is a holidaying cleric, Canon Pennyfather played by Denis Lill who finally unmasks the killer.

This production has great atmosphere and it is easy to imagine the heat, the boat and the claustrophobic atmosphere as passengers gather for the inevitable showdown. Even if you didn't know it was Agatha Christie you would know someone has to die.

The story centres around Simon Mostyn and his wealthy socialite wife Kay who find themselves being pursued by an old flame of the groom.

Kate O'Mara is a deliciously snobbish Miss ffolio-ffoulkes who most of us  wouldn't have minded being murdered.

Christopher Hansford