Sydney’s Genesian Theatre continues its history of presenting adaptations of Agatha Christie plays with its latest success, GO BACK FOR MURDER. Adapted by Christie in 1960 from the novel Five Little Pigs, also once published as Murder in Retrospect the play omits Christie’s star detective Hercule Poirot as a sixteen-year-old murder case is re-examined.
Energetically leading the quest for truth on the stage is Carla Le Marchant, animatedly played by Tamryn Liddell. Her depiction of the wrongly convicted Caroline Crale (Carla’s mother) in flashback is convincingly multi-layered. Without Poirot in the mix, Carla solicits the assistance of lawyer Justin Fogg, played by David Hopkins, to clear Caroline’s name.
During Act One the pair interview five contrasted suspects, the ‘Little Pigs’ from the novel’s title. Carla’s mother went to prison for poisoning her husband, artist Amyas Crale, but one of the ‘little pigs’ is the true culprit.
Carla’s labour of love is a unique strand woven through the typical murder mystery structure. Carla and Justin arrange a return to the scene of the crime, and we see a detailed re-enactment of the lead-up to the murder during Act Two.
As is always necessary when bringing an Agatha Christie story to life, the collection of characters require confident projection in order to keep us guessing and to display the final Christie twist to ultimate effect.
David Hopkins plays Justin Fogg with the fine resolve of a lawyer inheriting the family firm. He acts ably as an audience-facing narrator in the flashback that is Act Two.
The character of Caroline’s step-sister Angela Warren is another interesting emotional strand. She deals with memories and facts from childhood to adulthood. Bearing facial injuries inflicted by an angry young Caroline, we see this character as a fifteen year old and also aged thirty-one during the interviews and re-enactment.
Cassady Maddox excels in capturing the dual essences of a young girl and adult. Her vocal range and contrasts of persona are pleasing elements of the play’s time shifts. The teenage Angela is an energetic ‘Little Pig’ on the stage.
A very successful and finely-voiced characterisation also comes from Denise Kitching’s portrayal of the governess, Miss Williams. This performance shows fine timing, accent, arrogance and ambiguity. It is a classic Christie role played with classic style.
Costuming by Elizabeth Elwell-Cook is suitably opulent and individual in this production. Colours and styles are shown off well against the white set with its two exits and balcony art space.
Swathed in some of the plays most opulent layers of costume is the murdered artist’s model and romantic fling, Else. Her flirty, youthful intrusion into the Crale house are boldly depicted by Dominique Purdue. Her carriage about the stage as the older Lady Melksham is also rewarding to watch.
The final suspects are the Blake brothers, friends of the poisoned artist. They are represented with necessary contrast by John-Paul Santucci (Phillip Blake) and Clancy Carraway (Meredith Blake). Both work well within the ensemble. Of the two, Santucci in particular maintains a more appropriate accent and seamlessness of character.
These two actors display good chemistry with the victim of the murder, Amyas Crale. The victim is played with superbly loathsome artistic temperament and machismo by Louis Emerson-Clarke in the re-enactment scenes.
This Agatha Christie play has found a good home at the Genesian theatre. It is a substantial offering in the genre, but its scope and length is well-directed. The challenges for creatives and actors of extra emotional elements and major shifts in time are enthusiastically met.
GO BACK FOR MURDER plays at the Genesian Theatre, 420 Kent Street, Sydney until 3rd October.