Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Nile is a colourful whodunit in the best tradition set on a river steamer on the Nile. All your favourite characters are there, the crusty old aunt with her downtrodden companion, the newly married young lovers, a parson, a French maid, a toff in disguise and a foreign doctor demanding a heavy accent (naturally they are all not quite what they seem at first). All this played out against a background of the hot and sultry banks of the Nile couldn’t be better!
Kate O’Mara is quite splendid as the aunt rejoicing in the unlikely name of Miss ffoliot-ffoulkes, capable of felling a man at fifty paces with one withering glance and a dismissive wave of her elegant hand, she also brings a lot of humour to the part. As she tottered off back to her cabin after one too many gin fizzes her receding view sparked gales of laughter. Her financially embarrassed niece, Christina, (played by Jennifer Bryden) is a nice innocent young girl unwittingly caught up in the intrigue.
The admirable Dennis Lill plays Canon Pennefather, a parson on the look out for charitable donations to his Christian community projects, who in a convoluted twist of the plot is the best friend of the father of Kay Mostyn, the young newly married heiress who is on board with her husband, and Canon Pennefather is also her Trustee. Dennis Lill gives a grand performance as the gruff and all-knowing Pennefather but can we trust him?
Chloe Newsome does a nice line in hysteria as the jilted fiancé of Simon Mostyn, played by Ben Nealon and Susie Amy as Kay Mostyn, the heiress, provides the glamour and shows the 1930s costumes off to their best effect, especially the beautiful backless gold evening gown. Mark Wynter plays the disenfranchised Dr Bessner and all credit to him for keeping up the brilliant accent throughout.
I can say no more without revealing the plot which would be a pity but suffice to say it kept us enthralled for some two hours and gets my recommendation as a fine production of this classic Agatha Christie drama.
Jacquie Vowles