‘Both lively and genuinely moving’
Durham Student Theatre’s freshers’ play was an intriguing and emotional adaptation of Agatha Christie’s beloved novel, in which a casual dinner party becomes far more complicated than a love triangle. Director Libby Brackenberry, Production Manager Tammy Reese and Producer Elvy Clack did an amazing job of bringing the story to life.
From the very first moment, you are immersed in the messy human world of the story, thanks in large part to the beautiful set design and lighting; all technicians should be praised highly for their work behind the scenes. The spirit of the entire cast gave the play its life, and from the opening scene you fall in love with Erin Field as Lady Angkatell, Wilferd Towton-Crouch as Sir Henry and Lucy Jarvis as Henrietta. Field’s delivery was especially on point and made every scene absurdly hilarious. Jarvis showed the emotional turmoil and growth of her character with real mastery. At first she appears to be a wild, emotional artist, and as the play unfolds she showcases the fire and wit of the character perfectly.
We then meet the next two guests, Layla Boillon as Midge and Roberto Ronco as Edward, who both delivered incredibly emotional performances. Boillon’s expressive nature makes you feel Midge’s jealousy and youthfulness. Ronco’s delivery in the second half was especially powerful. The stoic man we got to know in the first act was nowhere to be seen, and his candid insecurity moved the audience. Ronco’s ability to tackle these immensely different sides of the character was incredible.
At the heart of the story is the marriage of John and Gerda, and both roles were handled with real skill. James Ellershaw was a standout as John, and he made you feel for this morally grey character even as you questioned him. His delivery could stir anger in one moment and bittersweet heartache in the next, which kept the audience unsure whether to condemn him or pity him. Sophie Turner met him beautifully as Gerda, his meek wife. Beside such a larger-than-life husband, her quieter presence made their dynamic feel believable and gave the household a constant, simmering tension.
That tension was sharpened by the arrival of Gigi Donald as Veronica, who brought an entirely different energy to the stage. Her suggestive and self-assured delivery gave the role all the big star energy it required, and her smugness tied the performance together. Every time she appeared, she shifted the mood of the room and reminded the other characters, and the audience, just how much was at stake. Set against Turner’s gentle Gerda, she made the web of relationships at the centre of the play feel even more fragile.
Around these larger personalities, the supporting cast kept the household feeling lived in. Sam Acton was charming as Gudgeon, the ever-helpful butler, and his calm presence offered a steady contrast to the drama unfolding upstairs. Elvy Clack was equally delightful as Doris, playing the maid as youthful and gossipy, and her scenes added lightness and humour just when the story needed a breath.
That lightness gave way once the inspector and sergeant arrived. Tom Shelly as the inspector and Berthsen Wheeler as the sergeant brought to life the trustworthy, witty detectives that every whodunit requires. Their arrival gave the story fresh momentum, and as they worked through the secrets of the household, they pulled the threads of the dinner party together.
This was an incredibly well constructed and well delivered play, and the care that went into it was clear from start to finish. Every performer, stagehand, lighting, and sound team member showed real skill, whether in the sharp comic timing of the lighter moments or the emotional weight of the darker ones, and together they made the story feel both lively and genuinely moving. Cannot wait to see them in future performances!