Agatha Christie The Mirror Crack'd UK Tour Review

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Mon 14 Nov 2022 - Sat 18 Feb 2023

Miss Marple is back and she's sparky with a touch of older lady sass in this vibrant, often comic new Agatha Christie tale on tour.



I caught The Mirror Crack'd from the Original Theatre Company at Malvern Theatres, where it stays for a week until Saturday November 19. The tour is back in the Midlands at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre from November 14 to 18.

Susie Blake stars as the formidable sleuth who has a fun, witty relationship with Scotland Yard Detective Craddock, who she used to babysit and is back in St Mary Mead because a killer is on the loose.

Blake is well cast with excellent poise and charisma as Miss Marple. She makes it easy to see how Marple cajoles information out of people. In this story, the pensioner has got a sprained ankle and is largely confined to her home.

It starts with the death at a cocktail party being relayed to the inquisitive spinster second-hand and continues in much the same fashion through the first act.



Cleverly, as interviews with suspects are recounted, the various characters emerge around her living room to say their piece.

Rachel Wagstaff has done a fine job in adapting the script from the Queen of Crime's work. Although there's slight changes to the original tale, it all fits in. The fast paced action keeps red herrings, twists and turns coming thick and fast.

Blake is a safe pair of hands but there's other big names involved. Sophie Ward, who has starred in many TV crime dramas including Lewis, and Strictly Come Dancing winner Joe McFadden, although his role is quite minimal.

Oliver Boot, playing Chief Inspector Craddock, has a lovely chemistry with Blake during their verbal jousts. It's the highlight of the show and makes Christie's work much funnier than I've seen it done before.



While the murder mystery is at the core of this production, it is very character driven, even bringing in a back story to Miss Marple and her friend Dolly Bantry's friendship. They chat about years gone by and the love of Miss Marple's life, along with how he died.

There's also more emphasis put on the mental health impact of tragedies and hardships in the various suspects' lives.

While the deaths in the first act happen off stage, the bloodthirsty will be relieved to hear that the big finale relives the killings, showing them all taking place and by whom.

As a huge Agatha Christie fan who has read the books, seen the films along with various TV series on both BBC and ITV, I found this a thoroughly enjoyable, gently entertaining show.

It surprisingly even adds something fresh to age-old Christie. All in all, The Mirror Crack'd has a lovely humour during an evening of cosy crime that Christie fans will adore.

Rating: & #9733 ;& #9733 ;& #9733 ;& #9733 ;& #9734 ;

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!date 14/11/2022 -- 18/02/2023
%wnbirmingham