Written by Agatha
Christie
Directed by Jon
Elphick
Tempo Theatre Inc
Belconnen Theatre to
May 23, 2015
Review by Len Power 15 May 2015
‘Oh, what a tangled web we weave…’ says the police inspector
towards the end of Agatha Christie’s ‘Spider Web’. The Queen of Crime plays wonderful puzzle
games with the audience in this complex and, surprisingly funny, thriller. The Tempo Theatre cast and director, Jon
Elphick, have obviously had a lot of fun staging this and the large opening
night audience showed how much they enjoyed it with laughter throughout and
strong applause at the end.
An original play, it was written in 1953 at a peak in Agatha
Christie’s play-writing period. Both
‘The Mousetrap’ and ‘Witness For The Prosecution’ were still running when this
one opened in 1954 and ran for 774 performances. The plot might seem dated, the characters
quaint and the police procedures definitely lacking but it doesn’t matter. You’re carried along like you’re on a
fairground ride and you’ll enjoy it.
Amongst the large cast are several standout
performances. In the leading role, Sarah
Bourke shines as the woman trying desperately to cover up what seems to be an
accidental killing. Tony Cheshire
underplays nicely as the sinister butler, Elgin, and Marian Fitzgerald is very
funny as the meddlesome gardener, Mildred Peake. Kim Wilson gives a believable country
gentleman performance as Sir Rowland and Shane Horsburgh as the police
inspector displays a fatherly warmth with a hint of steel under the surface.
 |
| Rear (L-R): Marian FitzGerald, Jason Morton, Tony Galliford, Shane Horsburgh, Kim Wilson, Sam Kentish, Tony Cheshire, Garry Robinson; Front: Bill Kolentsis, Kate Walker, Sarah Bourke. |
This company revels in doing these older plays and their
enjoyment shows in the playing. The play
gives plenty of opportunity for comedy and the laughs are all there. There were times when the pace flagged a bit
and some of the acting was a bit uneven but it was never less than enjoyable.
 |
| Now how did THAT get there....? |
Director, Jon Elphick, has produced an entertaining version
of this Agatha Christie play. His Tempo
Theatre company have developed a unique niche in the market for these vintage
plays which no-one else is doing in Canberra.
I made the usual fool of myself telling friends at interval who I
thought the murderer was – and I got it wrong.
Go along and see if you can work it out.
I bet you can’t!
Photographs: Melita Caulfield
Originally broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 ‘Dress Circle’ showbiz program
with Bill Stephens on Sunday 17 May 2015 from 5pm.
