Above : the sleuth A Team : Ross Alexander as Hercule Poirot and Nathan Heinrich as Captain Arthur Hastings
The scenario to BLACK COFFEE is vintage Christie, The play is set in the 1930s and takes place in the library of patriarch Sir Claud’s house, Abbot’s Cleve, about 25 miles from London.
A leading scientist, Sir Claud has developed a formula for a an extraordinarily powerful weapon. Sir Claud is murdered and the formula he disappeared. Poirot is summoned. He has to work out, as we, the audience, also endeavour to, work out for amongst the group at Abbot’s Cleve is the murderer.
The quest is on to identify the murderer, and this search is both earnest and also very comical as polite society has to deal with intrigue from within.
Director Michael Richmond and his creative team came up with an impressive stage world for the actors to perform in. Jennifer Willison’s very appealing, finely detailed set of Sir Claud Amory’s ornate library. Joanna Yetsenga, Christine Rule, Anna Choy, Joy Randall and Sophie Lebeuf put together the period costumes. Wayne Chee’s atmospheric design put the actors in the best light.
There were thirteen actors in the play, a large number for a conventional drama. They deliver fine performances.
The big role is of-course that of Inspector Hercule Poirot. Ross Alexander is a good Poiret, portraying his confident, assured manner. One can ‘hear’ the brain ticking over as he endeavours to piece things together.
Nathan Heinrich plays Poirot’s aide, Captain Arthur Hastings. Heinrich’s Captain Hastings is a quiet figure of support, albeit given to the distractions offered by Barbara’s not so mild flirtations.
As Inspector Japp, Rodney Stewart makes a strong, contrasting figure to Poiret, playing a gruff, traditional Scotland Yard Inspector.
Gary Hill plays a brief role as the local GP who is called in to certify Sir Claud’s death.
On to the Amory family. We don’t get to see much of Graham Egan as the patriarch Sir Claud who gets the chop very early on still the little he has to do, he does well.
As Sir Claud’s adult son Richard, Thomas Southwell conveyed his character’s ruffled, unsettled nature. This was the result of him not having the best of relationships with his father, and his financial affairs not being in a good way.
As Richard’s wife Lucia, Emma Lebeuf portrayed an elegant woman with a furtive nature. Lucia had the disadvantage of being of Italian background, and the Brits at the time, the 1930s, looked down on them.
The same dynamicapplies to Italian born Doctor Carelli, played with flamboyance by the ‘wild looking’ Julian Hall.
Christine Rule gives a lovely performance as Sir Claud’s unmarried sister Caroline, now the family patriarch. Rule’s Caroline has a crotchety persona however this disguises her shrewd and very observant nature
Annalie Hamilton plays Sir Claud’s niece, Barbara. Hamilton’s Barbara is light and playful in nature, going against the civility and seriousness of the rest.
Sam McAllery plays Sir Claud’s secretary Raynor as a person of competence who is given unfettered access to Sir Claud’s office.
Chris Long capably played two roles that of – the polite, courteous family butler Tredwell, and Inspector Judd’s offsider, Johnson.
All the loose ends are neatly tied up at the end. Well it is, after all, Poiret! Did I guess who the murderer was? No. Not good at whodunnits! But you may very well do so.
There is nothing quite like the experience of a good Agatha Christie whodunnit and Hunters Hill theatre have put on a fine, quality production.
Agatha Christie’s BLACK COFFEE is playing the performance space in Club Ryde until the final performance, the matinee on Sunday 13th September 2026.
Production photograhy by Dan Ferris
