The Agathaverse machine might not appear to rival intellectual property juggernauts like Star Wars, Harry Potter and Game of Thrones but nearly half a century after her death, Agatha Christie’s work remains immensely celebrated—and profitable. In the last year there’s been a new BBC series, another Kenneth Branagh-helmed film, published novels revisiting her universally-adored Miss Marple and so on. That’s failing to include what is already out there and thriving (one shall refrain on this occasion to state how many The Mousetrap performances they’re on—it’ll be invalidated this time tomorrow).
So on the next stop of its UK tour, the world’s best-selling murder mystery novel And Then There Were None arrives at Theatre Royal Bath. The production is directed by Lucy Bailey, who of course is responsible for Witness for the Prosecution at London’s County Hall and this week was announced to direct another UK tour of Murder on the Orient Express. Bailey is essentially the stage’s rival to Branagh’s film exploits, if you will.
Christie herself adapted the play after its enormous success when released 85 years ago. Inspired by Burgh island in Devon, And Then There Were None sees eight strangers invited to a party on Soldier Island. As the play’s title suggests, the guests become victims one by one until nobody is left standing.
Despite the material, the production struggles to provide a cohesive front—especially in the first act. A translucent drape curtain fails to encapsulate the setting, with uneven lighting unable to find the sweet spot between moody and just plain dark. At points, it's difficult to see faces at all. The ensemble’s chemistry grinds with characters becoming over the top in an effort to stand out. It does pick up in the second half and a few actors do a good job in regaining a hold of the text.
Unfortunately, there is no page-turning equivalent of the edge-of-your-seat spectacle here. It lacks the production quality that Murder on the Orient Express had when it stopped through on its 2022 tour of the Chichester Festival Theatre production. But it also lacks the intensity Witness for the Prosecution offers in London. .
On the bright side, the production is at its best when Doctor Armstrong (Bob Barrett), Judge Wargrave (David Yelland) and Vera (Sophie Walter) are at the centre of attention. The trio produce a strong stage presence which takes you away from the set and directly into their performance.