The new show at the Genesian Theatre is an Agatha Christie murder mystery which is sure to bring good houses to this lovely inner city venue. As always it is the interesting group of characters which bring Christie’s work vividly to life.
The setting is the living room of a country estate with a door out to the patio. The plot revolves around a gruesome discovery made by one Michael Starkwedder. One night his car goes into a ditch and he seeks help from a local house. No-one responds to his knocks, but he goes in through the unlocked balcony to find a dead man in a wheelchair, one Richard Warwick. In the corner stands wife Laura, a woman in shock, with a gun in her hand.
It seems like a straightforward homicide however not so quickly. This is Agatha Christie! Michael is not convinced and has taken a sheen to Laura. Together they work out a plan which will make suspicion fall elsewhere. Another shot is fired, they leave the scene, and the Warwick household appear to find their patriarch murdered. The police are called.
Jess Davis confidently directs her first full scale production for the Company. Debbie Smith’s period set- chaise lounge, old telephone, game park ‘trophies’- of the living room of a country estate is functional and effective. Michael Schell’s lighting and sound design work well.
David has brought together a good cast who each perform well.
Harry Taylor gives a very assured performance as the unusual, uninvited guest, Michael, who gets himself more involved in the action than one ordinarily would do.
Alexandra Kelly is suitably enigmatic as Laura whose character shows more steel than she first appears to have. Kelly’s character has quite a large journey through the play and she transverses it well.
Anna Desjardins plays the rather intense, stern, scrutinising ‘know it all’ Warwick family housekeeper Miss Bennett.
Youngster Ravel Balkus gives a good performance as Richard’s simple minded, very excitable half brother, Jan Warwick, providing a lot of the play’s comic relief.
Tricia Youlden deftly plays Richard’s frail, elderly mother Mrs Warwick, dependant on a cane to get around, who loves her children dearly, but has no illusions about them, and shares her views openly.
Peter David Allison plays the tongue in cheek named, Henry Angell, Richard’s carer and valet. Allison performs well playing his devious, mean spirited character.
Thomas Southwell plays the wily politician Major Julian Farrar who finds himself compromised during the drama but holds his ground.
Patrick Gallagher plays Sgt Cadwallader who follows the good Inspector around and is forever writing notes in his notebook whilst, at times, appearing distracted by things going on around him.
Richard Cotter makes the most of his role as the no-nonsense, methodical Inspector Thomas and has good mastery over his Welsh accent.
There are plenty of twists and turns during this show as different things come to light to add surprise and keep one guessing right up until a very fine, sharp, poignant ending.
Recommended, THE UNINVITED GUEST is playing the Genesian Theatre,. 420 Kent Street, city until 1st September, 2018. Performance times are Friday and Saturday nights at 7.30pm and Sundays at 4.30pm. Running time 2 hours and 20 minutes with one twenty minute interval.
www.genesiantheatre.com.au