LOVE FROM A STRANGER

Written by Agatha Christie

Directed by Jon Elphick

Tempo Theatre Inc production

Belconnen Theatre, Belconnen to November 2

 

Reviewed by Len Power 25 October 2024

 

Opening in London in 1936, Love From A Stranger is based on Agatha Christie’s short story Philomel Cottage, which was first published in 1934. It’s the story of a woman who breaks off her engagement and impulsively marries a stranger, only to suspect him of dark deeds in his past.

This play is more of a Will-He-Do-It than a Whodunnit, but anyone thinking this is a more straight-forward mystery than usual, will be caught napping as Christie stealthily controls the minds of her unsuspecting audience yet again.

Elphick has assembled a fine cast of 8 to tell this story. It’s notable for the depth of character work that he and the cast have achieved to bring these 1930s people convincingly to life.

The entire cast from 'Love From A Stranger'

Lilliana Cazabon-Mitchell brings a believable innocence to the role of Cecily Harrington, a typical middle-class young woman of the period. Eloise Willis, as her friend, Mavis Wilson, quickly establishes herself as the more worldly of the two women. George Belibassakis gains audience sympathy with his nicely controlled performance as the jilted fiancé, Nigel Lawrence.

Bradley Jones (Bruce Lovell) and Lilliana Cazabon-Mitchell (Cecily Harrington)

Bradley Jones as the man of mystery, Bruce Lovell, is convincingly charming when he first meets Cecily and carefully adds layers of darkness to his character as the play progresses. Some of the later psychological aspects of his character show that this is a play of its time, but Jones plays the threatening behaviour at a believable level.

Debra Byrne (Auntie Loo Loo) and Eloise Willis (Mavis Wilson)

Debra Byrne excels with her humorous character study of the interfering and bigoted middle-aged Auntie Loo Loo and there is especially strong support by Chris McGrane as a very funny gardener, Hodgson. Jessica Slusser as the maid, Ethel, and Kim Wilson as Dr. Gribble also give finely etched characterizations.

The women’s costumes and hats are attractive and nicely in period and the design of the two settings is artfully handled to give the impression of two completely different locations.

Renowned world-wide for her record number of murder mystery novels, Agatha Christie also wrote quite a number of plays. Jon Elphick, the director of Christie’s Love From A Stranger, has now directed 12 of them, which must be some kind of record, too.

 

Photos by Peter Butz - Methinks Creative

 

This review was first published by Canberra CityNews digital edition on 26 October 2024.

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs and published in his blog 'Just Power Writing' at https://justpowerwriting.blogspot.com/.