Show: Towards Zero
Society: Mill at Sonning Theatre Ltd, The
Venue: The Mill at Sonning Theatre, Sonning Eye, Reading, Berkshire
Credits: By Agatha Christie and Gerald Verner
Type: Sardines
Author: Jess Pether
Performance Date: 17/08/2019
Towards Zero
Jess Pether | 23 Aug 2019 17:38pm
I wish I’d discovered the delights of Agatha Christie earlier on in life. I must confess that my first introduction to her was when I saw the film version of Murder on the Orient Express starring Kenneth Branagh in 2017. Since then, I’ve seen the 2018 TV adaptation of The ABC Murders and Witness for the Prosecution at London County Hall (which is still on and is well worth a visit). And I’d like to keep adding to my list.
Therefore, I was delighted to be able to review Towards Zero at The Mill at Sonning for Sardines. It’s not a title I’d heard of, and I liked being in the dark about what was due to unfold.
Originally written as a novel in 1944, Towards Zero was adapted into a play in 1956, by Christie and writer Gerald Verner. The story is set in Cornwall and all action takes place in the drawing room of Gull’s Point, the residence of Lady Camilla Tressilian. She has invited her ward Nevile Strange for his annual visit, but he insists on bringing both his current wife Kay and his ex-wife Audrey, much to Lady Tressilian’s displeasure. As tensions rise, Lady Tressilian is suddenly found dead… and the culprit must be someone in the house.
It is extremely pleasant to be transported back to a much simpler age for the duration of the show. The set is light and homely, the costumes are delightful and the actors weave around each other with ease, bringing the story to life, comfortably building relationships you really care about.
Bethan Nash as the new Mrs Strange, Kay, is the best dressed by far, in beautiful outfits each more colourful than the next (all made on site at The Mill). She spends most of the show sulking or angry at the inappropriate behaviour of her husband, but when acting with Duncan Wilkins, playing Ted Latimer, she shows her softer, more playful side. Ted is in love with Kay and is staying at a hotel across the bay. His character is like a naughty school boy, who comes bounding on with his hair flopping all over the place and a flower pinned to his bright jacket. I enjoyed watching their strong characters.
The show is directed by Brian Blessed, and Lady Tressilian is played by his wife, Hildegard Neil. Aged 80, she has the wonderful look of someone you know must have lived an extraordinary life, and is just right in the part. Blessed’s daughter Rosalind also stars, as Lady Tressilian’s ‘dogsbody’ Mary, who becomes a key part of the story when she is drugged by the killer. It’s quite a serious role, which came across well in the portrayal.
There are no real weak links in the show at all in terms of players. Rob Heanley as Nevile Strange and Patrick Myles who plays Thomas Royde, an old friend who is secretly in love with the ex-Mrs Strange Audrey (try to keep up!), are both well cast. They fit snugly into the mould of a 1950s upper-class young gent. Kate Tydman as Audrey Strange is the calm throughout the show, until she discovers the body and in shock, grabs her face with a bloodied hand. It’s a great climax to the first half! Completing the setup of Gull’s Point guests is Noel White as Matthew Treves. He acts as the wise head on everyone’s shoulders and steers the story, especially in the second half. He was one of my favourites to watch – I was drawn to him and his character.
Blessed has now directed a quartet of Agatha Christie plays at The Mill over the past four years and he actually met the lady herself in 1956. In the programme, he says she considered Towards Zero her finest play and also confided that Superintendent Battle, who is called in to solve the case, was her favourite detective. As Blessed says, “An amazing revelation when you consider her creations of Poirot and Miss Marple have delighted audiences for decades.” Playing the part of Battle is George Telfer. I actually didn’t think he had too much to get his teeth into, not coming in until over half way through the show, but he produces some of the best comedy moments alongside Chris Pybus as Inspector Leach. Leach is Battle’s nephew and has just been promoted – this is his first murder case. He runs around like an excited puppy, brandishing the murder weapon and calling in suspects. They are very funny together!
I thought the show was directed well. There are some clever aspects used, such as a spotlight fading onto Nevile at the end of one scene and coming back up again at the start of the next, but this time revealing Thomas Royde’s face instead; in the dark, you don’t see the switch. Music is also used to create tension at the end of scenes, when the theatre descends into almost pitch blackness… I felt a few flutters of nerves each time this happened!
The Mill is a wonderful venue, and the audience were clearly enjoying themselves, chattering away even after the lights came up or faded down, no doubt trying to work out “whodunnit”. I didn’t guess, but then I rarely do, and I think that’s the brilliance of Agatha Christie’s plots. It takes a group of well-rounded actors to bring her stories to life without confusing the audience, and this set were perfect. I would highly recommend a trip to Towards Zero (especially as the ticket includes a delicious meal beforehand!) and hopefully, like me, you’ll be left guessing whodunnit right until the very end…
- : admin
- : 17/08/2019