August 11, 2011 — The Agatha Christie mysteries are ingenious, well-written and unpredictable. Most have totally unexpected endings. They're also so popular and well-known that in any given audience, many will have seen the play or movie or read the story before. This doesn't necessarily spoil the fun. Seeing Christie's well-developed characters portrayed by good actors is always fascinating, even if you already know "who dunnit." However, if like me you're seeing a production such as "Murder on the Nile" for the first time, it can be an exciting, suspenseful, often funny treat.
This is the type of play The Barnstormers in Tamworth, New Hampshire usually does extremely well. However, "Murder on the Nile" fills up most of the first two acts of the three-act play introducing characters, explaining relationships and providing background essential to understanding the plot. This became a bit tedious because the Barnstormers cast just wasn't passionate enough to bring out the characters' personalities and liven up the action. An exception was the very talented Scott Severance who stole the show, as he does most plays he's in, as a bombastic clergyman.
This wasn't a bad production. I'd just like to have seen a little more energy in the first two-thirds. The final act, as the circle tightens around the murderer (or murderers), was a tour de force, and the ending left most of the audience gasping.
No comments:
Post a Comment