Theatre Review: And Then There Were None

And Then There Were None                      

Book by Agatha Christie

Director Robyn Nevin

Photo credit Jeff Busby

Theatre Royal until June 1

Reviewed by Ron Lee, CSP, MAICD

Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None has opened at Sydney's Theatre Royal. That was the eventual title of the book because the original name, Ten Little Niggers, might have had some pushback. That title was inspired by a popular 1869 minstrels song.

The American versions changed it to Ten Little Indians from 1964 to 1986, and the U.K. editions used the original title until 1985.

A doctor (Edward Armstrong), a private investigator (William Blore), a pious old maid (Emily Brent), a sports mistress (Vera Claythorne), a soldier of fortune (Philip Lombard), a wealthy, irresponsible young man (Anthony Marston) and a retired judge (Sir Lawrence John Wargrave) all walk onto an island off the English coast near Devon. They were unexpectedly invited by Mr. and Mrs. Owens who are delayed in London. In the tradition of whodunits, one of the suspects is the butler (Thomas Rogers). At the instruction of the Owens’, he plays a gramophone record that accuses each visitor of being responsible for murder. His wife is a cook and housekeeper, Ethel Rogers.

The figurines on the coffee table disappear one by one as each of the visitors meets their maker in the ways that are described in rhymes that are mounted on the wall. 

Confusion seeks resolution. As in all good murder mysteries, audiences try to make sense of what is happening. Why is Blore speaking with a very, very pronounced South African accent? In a seemingly well established household, why had the butler and cook been there for only a week? In this production the motivation for Vera to do what she did in the end doesn’t seem strong enough. There wasn’t sufficient build to lead to that extreme, desperate, inevitable action.

The ensemble cast that includes Jack Bannister, Eden Falk, Jennifer Flowers, Nicholas Hammond, Mia Morrissey, Peter O’Brien, Christen O’Leary, Chris Parker, Anthony Phelan, Grant Piro and Tom Stokes are all solid and hold up their ends of the performance.

And Then There Were None is directed by multi-award winner Robyn Nevin who also directed the hugely successful recent touring production of The Mousetrap. I first saw Nevin’s acting talent in 1972 in the excellent Old Tote Theatre Company production of How Could You Believe Me When I Said I'd be Your Valet When You Know I've Been a Liar All My Life? which was directed by John Bell and also featured Drew Forsythe and John Gaden, all of whom are thankfully still working.