The Hollow

Agatha Christie’s ‘whodunnit’s’ have kept the theatre world chugging along with entertainment for decades. So it is for Hobart Repertory Theatre Society in this season, which marks the 75th anniversary of productions at the Playhouse Theatre. To celebrate their long successful career, the HRTS has reprised earlier productions. With a large cast of twelve actors, most experienced but some newly ‘blooded’ in this classic country house mystery, director Roger Chevalier had a marvellous time of presenting archetypal Christie characters. I often think that Christie didn’t really like the class that gave her so much material to work with. I found the action a little slow to begin with, but it was in keeping with the mannered, slightly stilted action that we expect from Agatha. It was obvious that the director respected the Agatha Christie style and was familiar with the genre. What frustrating people these upper class people must have been!

Pip Tyrell stole the show, giving a terrific performance as dotty old Lucy Angkatell. In a part that could have been written for him, Mike Edwards ably played Lucy’s husband Sir Henry Angkatell, and was suitably deliberate, stolid and lumbering in a kindly sort of way. The large cast each had a chance to strut their stuff.  All characters remained true to their form throughout, with great attention to accent and attitude. Steven Jones (John Cristow) was convincingly odious, looking every inch the cad, and his character thoroughly deserved to be murdered. Jones improves as an actor with every show. Sarah Forward as the poor, dreary little cheated on wife (Gerda Cristow) garnered sympathy. Emalisa White was suitably DAHLING! as film star Veronica Craye. Good laughs were milked by Jon Lenthall (Sergeant Penny) and Jean Henderson (Doris the maid) who both mastered their working-class accents to great effect. Roger More (Gudgeon the butler) was hilariously droll. Although the characters now seem to be clichéd stereotypes, this is what Christie fans want to see, and they weren’t disappointed. Congratulations to ALL concerned - a thoroughly satisfying Christie evening of entertainment.

Merlene Abbott 

Photographer: Ben Clews.