Who shot who, and why? MKFM’s Tom Johnston gets on-board the Nile cruiser to find out more.
The luxury cruise liner has set sail and it’s a long old voyage. Agatha Christie’s fabulous Death on the Nile, adapted here by Ken Ludwig, has hit the road (or water) and the UK tour doesn’t end until next May.
It’s a measure of the popularity of Christie’s much-loved Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and the tales, lies and deceit he is called upon to unravel.
The story was written and first published in 1937 and in the decades since then the crime thriller has been adapted for stage and screen in various forms. Most people know the story – and the ending – but the popularity of this classic tale has not diminished.
American playwright Ken Ludwig and director Lucy Bailey have previous experience of producing Christie masterpieces – last year they brought The Orient Express to Milton Keynes (and other theatres) to great acclaim and so, with ‘Nile’ we were expecting much of the same again.
We weren’t disappointed. There’s a clever and thoughtful Hercule Poirot, here played by the excellent Mark Hadfield, a luxury holiday, a glamorous setting, a murder, a line-up of suspects, lies, whispers and a bit of creeping about.
Even Bob Barrett, from Holby City, and who played Monsieur Bouc in ‘Orient Express’ re-emerges in ‘Nile’, this time as Colonel Race.
On board a high-end cruiser, sailing through Egypt, a young couple’s honeymoon is cut short by a brutal murder. Help is not far away because – surprise, surprise – Monsieur Poirot is on board. This is not a straightforward one to work out but the production moves along neatly to keep your interest going.
Poirot cuts through the secrets, lies and stories that have been buried as if in the Egyptian desert and attempts to untangle the web of deceit and find us a killer. Does he do it? Of course he does.
There’s a lot to get in here, but Ludwig’s adaptation keeps things simple and easy to follow and the dual layer staging is useful. It’s therefore highly enjoyable.
And it’s a sterling job by Hadfield who puts his own mark on the Poirot character while retaining the tried and tested nuances and characteristics of the quiet detective. Starring with Hadfield is the wonderful Glynis Barber, best known for her roles in TV’s Dempsey and Makepeace and more recently, EastEnders.
Both are neatly supported by dab hand Barrett, who had such as great time on board the Orient Express that they asked him back for more. An offer he couldn’t refuse, he admits. Barrett helps bring some funny moments into the deathly proceedings, as does Terence Wilton’s Septimus Troy.
It’s an enjoyable trip down crime writing’s Memory Lane and a thoroughly worthwhile evening out. Don’t know whodunnit? There’s a neat little series of events at the end to get your head around, and they finish this cruise off perfectly.
Death on the Nile is at Milton Keynes Theatre until Saturday 18th October.
Group bookings: 0207 206 1174
Online Booking: ATGTICKETS.COM/MiltonKeynes
