15th Jan 2019
If it's a new year then it must be time for murder at The People's Theatre; following on from the Christmas Panto, the team at People's are carrying on the tradition of staging an Agatha Christie Whodunnit to start the year.
This year it is Black Coffee - an Hercule Poirot mystery and Christie's first ever play. As always there is the niggling little doubt - will their Poirot deliver? Everyone has an image in their heads of what this dapper, finnicky little Belgian detective is like and it is a challenge to create a version on stage that meets expectation. And we have to wait a while before we get to meet the People's incarnation detective. but we need not have worried...the scene is set, the murder committed, and the detective arrives. There is an audible gasp and murmur of approval as Jake Wilson Craw appears - in his dapper spats - minces to the front of stage and speaks. He has nailed it - this is definitely Poirot. We relax. Time now to watch him work his magic and uncover the identity of the murderer...
of course there are many red herrings, there are so many obvious - perhaps too obvious? - candidates. Secrets are hinted at, but never quite revealed, something is amiss at the mansion - but what? And who does it involve? And which of these polite, respectable people could be capable of murder? Poirot is the man to untangle the threads and solve the mystery. You feel he knows right from the outset where the investigation will lead - or at least he knows where it will not lead, and clue by clue he makes his way to a conclusion.
The set is fabulous - the library of Sir Claud Amory's country house - complete with gramophone and Chesterfield. The costumes and hair - especially the ladies' -are magnificent. 1920s silks and satins for the dresses and beautifully coiffed hair-dos. Sarah Pearson's attention to details - diamante hair clips, necklaces and bejewelled handbags complete a perfect look.
Stand out performances for me are obviously Jake Wilson Craw as the inimitable Poirot, Rachel Scott as Edwina Raynor and I love Rye Mattick as the practical and outspoken Dr Graham.
This is beautifully produced, watch out for the facial expressions and body language of the characters when they are not delivering lines. Lots of clues there to what may - or may not - be going on! It is fun, entertaining and it will keep you guessing to the end.
Tickets are available from the box office at www.peoplestheatre.co.uk or by phone 0191 2655020. I'd recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment - there were not many spare seats on Tuesday evening. It runs until Saturday 19th.
Denise Sparrowhawk
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