SPIDER’S WEB, the title of Agatha Christie’s 1954 play, and her second most successful play after her legendary play,‘The Mousetrap’, could not be more appropriate. As the plot unravels, the web just grows ever larger and more intricate.
The play’s protagonist Is Clarissa Hailsham-Brown, an attractive, youngeish woman with a very fertile imagination. She is always dreaming up dramatic situations that she, as a heroine, can extrapolate herself out of. Reality bites when a real life blackmailer appears on the scene.
In her program note, director Georgia Drewe wrote that SPIDER’S WEB is one of her all time favourite plays. This love shows with her colourful, entertaining revival. There are plenty of neat directorial touches such as the telling set-up of the bridge table in front of the stage curtain at interval.
Patrick Gallagher’s finely detailed and aesthetically appealing set is a real stand-out, and would do most mainstage designers proud. Together with Dean Bennett’s props, Geoff Jones edgy soundscape, Wayne Chee’s lighting, and Jacqui Dielwart’s period costumes, the stage world is vividly created.
The play gives us a colorful set of characters to spend our time with.
Chloe Callow gives a fine performance in the leading role. She conveys well Clarissa’s stagey, drama queen, air of mystery personality,
As Clarissa’s early teens step-daughter Pippa, Emma Lebeuf gives a good performance, conveying her fragile, hyper, loving nature.
Rhys Kerec is rather nondescript as Clarissa’s longtime friend, Jeremy Warrender, and an early scene shows that there is some romantic tension between them.
Dave Kirkham plays Clarissa’s guardian Sir Rowland Delahaye who is Clarissa’s rock and support.
Kim Oates plays retired magistrate and friend of the Hailsham-Browns, Hugo Birch. With his legal background, he starts getting more involved with Clarissa’s situation.
Diane Howden gives an outstanding comic performance as the Hailsham- Brown’s quirky, irascible Cockney housekeeper, Mildred Peake.
Simon Emmerson also gives a fine comic performance, looking the part as the eccentric house butler Elgin. The opening night audience enjoyed his every appearance.
Paul Johnson’s creepy tone as the convicted felon Oliver Costello could have been reined in a bit. Johnson also played a fleeting role of a Doctor.
Justin Corcoran conveyed the self importance and superior attitude of Clarissa’s diplomat husband,who Clarissa is very subservient to. Justin also played the role of note taking village policeman, Constable Jones. Justin, just don’t forget to keep writing in that police notebook!
Murray Fane gave a very solid performance as the dogged, unflustered Inspector Lord.
I enjoyed this show most all because the play’s comedic elements and tone were more appealing than Christie’s many, inevitable plot twists and turns.
A Pymble Players production, Agatha Christie’s SPIDER’S WEB is playing the Zenith Theatre, Chatswood until the 12th July 2025.
