Written by Agatha
Christie
Directed by Jon
Elphick
Tempo Theatre Inc
Belconnen Theatre to
25 May
Reviewed by Len Power
18 May 2019
Agatha Christie’s ‘Towards Zero’ was first published in 1944
and was adapted for the stage by Christie and Gerald Verner in 1956. Director
of the current production by Tempo Theatre, Jon Elphick, believes it may be the
first time it has been performed in Canberra.
If you’ve read the novel, you’ll know that it is a very
clever whodunit and arguably one of Agatha Christie’s best. Tempo Theatre’s production of the play is one
of their best, too.
In ‘Towards Zero’, a murder occurs during a seaside house
party. Investigating Police
Superintendent Battle theorises that, when a murder is committed, the people
involved all seem to be converging towards a given place and hour - all going
towards zero.
 |
| From left: Jason Morton, Kim Wilson and Garry Robinson |
This production is the 10th Christie play directed by Jon
Elphick. His large cast of eleven all perform
their roles with conviction and a nice depth of characterization. Kim Wilson, who has the distinction of
playing in all ten Christie productions directed by Elphick, gives a
particularly fine performance as Superintendent Battle.
As well as some of Tempo’s regular performers, it was good
to see a number of very capable actors who are new to the Canberra stage, as
well as two graduates from Perform Australia (previously Canberra Academy of
Dramatic Art) in this production.
 |
| Las Wijayatilake and Chintarmanya Vivian |
The costumes are credited to Marian Fitzgerald, Jon Elphick
and the cast. The women’s dresses were
particularly attractive, stylish and correctly in period.
Jon Elphick has once again produced a well-designed drawing
room set with an army of cast members and other helpers who have constructed
and dressed it. A small company like
this must have a limited budget but the production values on show here are
impressive.
The large audience at the matinee performance I attended
demonstrated that Tempo has a strong and appreciative following. We all had a lot of fun trying to guess the
murderer – unsuccessfully, of course - in this well-done and intriguing murder
mystery.
This review was first
published in the Canberra City News digital edition of 19 May 2019.
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on the Artsound FM 92.7 ‘In the Foyer’ program on Mondays
and Wednesdays at 3.30pm.
