Theatre Review: Murder on the Nile - Theatre Royal, Glasgow✭✭✭
As summery weather made a fleeting appearance in Glasgow, it was fitting
to be watching a play set on the Nile as the inside of the theatre reflected
the warmth of the setting perfectly. The handkerchiefs clutched by the actors
for dramatic effect would have been gratefully borrowed by the rapt audience as
the temperature climbed and the tension on stage reached its crescendo.
Based on Agatha Christie's book, Death on the Nile, the play takes place during a paddleboat journey but sadly it does not feature her most famous character Hercule Poirot, as the book does.It is a
credit to the strength of Agatha Christie's writing that this play stands the
test of time. There is an overwhelming availability of criminal activity
focused programming on TV these days and yet this play had more twists than an
episode of CSI with the characters appearing shiftier and shiftier as the
action progressed. CSI: Miami's Horatio Caine would have been quite at home on
the deck of the paddleboat that dominates the stage twirling his Ray Bans and
waiting for the murderer to crack under the pressure.
What
makes this play compelling is that up until the very last scenes it is
impossible to predict whodunnit from this mismatched collection of people who
find themselves on the Nile together. Kate O’Mara
is scene stealing as the formidable Miss ffoliot-ffoulkes and Max Hutchinson is
the perfect foil as William Smith. Smith’s one-liners and casual wit
provide much needed light relief from the tension on stage. O’Mara’s interpretation of brandy-addled ffoliot-ffoulkes is particularly entertaining.
The strong
performances from the whole cast and the glorious lack of technical wizardry
revealing by DNA who the murderer is ensure the attention of the audience as
they try to unravel the mystery. For a trip to the by-gone era of travel and
fans of a traditional murder-mystery a night on the Nile is just the ticket.
PERFORMANCES
Until 30th June
Wed - Sat evening performacnces 7.30pm
Thu & Sat matinees 2.30pm
Tickets: £12 - £27
Box Office 0844 871 7647 (Bkg fee)
www.atgtickets.com/glasgow (bkg fee
