For as long as I can remember, the Genesian theatre has put on one Agatha Christie ‘s play every year. This has been a successful strategy by them, giving them great houses.
Set in the early 1950s, MURDER ON THE NILE takes audiences on a voyage down the River Nile where every passenger becomes a suspect, keeping audiences guessing until the very end. The beautiful and wealthy Kay Mostyn is on her honeymoon, cruising on a
luxurious paddle steamer with her dashing new husband, Simon.
Soon the blissful atmosphere and idyllic surroundings are shattered by a shocking and brutal murder.
Tension rises and claustrophobia builds as a multitude of memorable passengers reveal they have all the motives to kill.
Can clergyman and sleuth, Canon Pennefathe, navigate a web of deceit and danger to unravel the truth and expose an audacious conspiracy?
As is traditionally the case with the murder mystery format, nothing is what it seems, and there are plenty of red herrings in place before the murderer is identified.
This Genesian Theatre Company production, directed by Theo Hatzistergos, is a satisfying revival.
Central to Hatzistergos’ production is a life size figure of Anubis, the Egyptian God of the Underworld, represented by the figure of a man with the head of a jackal. According to ancient Egyptian folklore, he enjoyed a preeminent position as Lord of the Dead and the God of funerary practices.
The figure stand in the back, at the centre of the stage, looking over, shadowing and even judging the action. It is a powerful, omniscient presence. It reminded me of a Rodney Fisher production I saw a long time ago at the Riverside Theatres Parramatta where Fisher had a huge statue of King Lear hovering over his production of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy.
Hatzistergos’ creative team that eloquently set up the world for the. actors to work in featured set designer Gregory George, lighting designer Cian Byrne, costume designer Susan Carveth and sound designer Michael Schell. Stage manager Rhea Moloo with her assistant Duncan Cole made sure that the action on stage moved smoothly.
The performances were each accomplished. On opening night David Stewart-Hunter was clearly hindered by a bad cold and a tickling throat which saw him often clearing his throat before he said his lines. It was great to see him being a team player, and soldering on. Community theatres are of-course not in the position where they are able to have understudies. Stewart-Hunter gives a good performance as the middle aged clergyman turned super sleuth.
Hunter Smith played the personable, charming Simon Mostyn who may just be a little too suave.
Emma Burns plays his beautiful, wealthy and entitled wife Kay who has unfortunately a short lived life on stage as she is the murder victim.
Izzy Azzopardi played Jacqueline De Severac who had previously been engaged to Simon, and had been friends with Kay from childhood. Feeling slighted by both Kay and Simon, she stalks the couple, causing them much grief.
Anastasia Vokhmyakova plays the french maid Louise, very polite and charming but with a cunning side to her.
Gregory George is certainly a busy guy in this production. He is not only the show’s set designer, he also plays the part of the mysterious Dr Bessner of uncertain origin whilst speaking with a german accent. Dr Bessner harbours ill feelings towards Kay’s father. His enigmatic background and hidden vendetta add an extra layers to the narrative.
Oliver Harcourt plays William Smith, a charismatic socialist with a disdain for the upper class which makes him an uncomfortable presence for everyone on board.
Isla Harris plays Christina Grant who has a sweet and even tempered nature which isn’t even very unruffled by her belligerent aunt Miss Ffoliot-Ffoulkes, played by Genesian theatre veteran Sandra Bass, who is perfectly cast in the role.
A great team effort, and one that again shows the Genesian Theatre Company has a good show with their Agatha Christie productions, MURDER ON THE NILE is playing the Genesian Theatre, 420 Kent Street, city until the 21st September 2024.
http://www.genesiantheatre.com.au
