Show: A Murder Is Announced
Venue: Perth Theatre
Date: 9th October 2019
Writer: Agatha Christie, adapted for the stage by Leslie Darbon
Director: Michael Lunney
Principal cast: Sarah Thomas (Miss Marple), Kazia Pelka (Letitia Blacklock), Tom Butcher (Inspector Craddock), & Jenny Funnell (Dora Bunner)
I read the book this is based on a few weeks ago, and though it wasn’t my favourite of Christie’s work, it was actually surprisingly fun being able to watch this adaptation knowing the final outcome. Doing so allowed me to pick up on all the little clues that eventually add up to help Miss Marple figure out whodunnit. It was a great way to appreciate just how meticulous Christie’s approach to plotting was.
Reading the novel beforehand is certainly not a requirement, but given that it is one of Christie’s more convoluted yarns, I do think prior knowledge of the plot’s intricacies helped me follow the increasingly complicated dynamic between the fairly large cast of characters as various secrets were unravelled.
The adaptation itself is a largely faithful one, though it has been scaled back somewhat to accommodate the show’s run time and production requirements. Taking place across a few days, and all set within the same room, it’s a show scant on action (with the body count reduced to just two). Instead, it’s packed with wry humour, red herrings, and fast wordplay that hides the truth.
The cast included a number of recognisable faces from British stage and screen. Sarah Thomas was suitably charming and witty as Marple, but Lydia Piechowiak’s eccentric, paranoid, and hilarious Mitzi was definitely the scene stealer. As my first taste of Christie on the stage, this served as a good introduction. Well aware that she’s produced smarter, more thrilling plots, however, I’m excited to see how more of her work translates to a live setting.
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Callum McLaughlin 
The Mousetrap is an oldie indeed but a goodie – if you ever get the chance to see it on stage, it’s classic and quaint and fun.
I’d love to see that one! Glad to hear you enjoyed it.
I am glad you enjoyed it, even if you already read the book. Actually, I sometimes re-read Christie novels, which is a rare thing to do for crime fiction, but I still enjoy her books even if I remember who the culprit is. That says a lot about the quality of some of her books!
Absolutely! She certainly earned her title of Queen of Crime.
I should read more Miss Marple, I haven’t read this one and my recent one made me think about how in some of them, she doesn’t always show up for the whole book. I might try watching my next one after reading to see if I can pick up on the clues
That’s true! I’ve been surprised by how little Marple and Poirot appear in some of their respective novels.