Brisbane review - Murder on the Nile: a quality community theatre experience

 By Lilian Harrington

Production: Murder on the Nile

Writer: Agatha Christie

Company: New Farm Nash Theatre

Director: Sharon White.

Location: The Brunswick Room, Merthyr Road (Uniting Church, 52 Merthyr Road, New Farm).

Season:   November 15th -7thDecember, 2024

Bookings: www.trybooking.com/1147849

Murder on the Nile is New Farm Nash Theatre’s final program for the year. This popular thriller by accomplished crime writer Agatha Christie is a must see. Directed by Sharon White, this is a tightly staged and well-cast play, which uses the well- known film score by composer Patrick Doyle, to create a strong atmosphere. The 2022 film version of this play, directed by Kenneth Branagh, was very successful, but the original stage play still has intrigue and invites the audience to share both the comedy and thrills of the murder mystery.

Writer Agatha Christie has set this play on the “Lotus”, a fictitious paddle steamer, cruising on Egypt’s River Nile. The play captures the atmosphere of the period and some of the Egyptian culture. The plot has a few red herrings, but it focuses on the travellers who are on the river cruise, especially the Mostyns, a newly- wed couple. Kay Mostyn (Samantha Herde) is a wealthy young woman who is used to getting her own way; Simon Mostyn (Matthew Hobbs), is secretive, and not well off, but he hopes his marriage to Kay will lead to better prospects.

 Previously, he was engaged to Jacqueline de Saverac (Philippa Dwyer), a lady of little means. She knew both Kay and Simon before their marriage, and she has been following Simon Mosytn around on their honeymoon, which is proving to be a frustration to Kay. The sudden arrival of Kay’s uncle, the delightful Canon Pennyfather (John Mann), is both fortunate and suspicious; he’s often seen asking Kay for money to cover his expenses. After Kay’s murdered, various characters fall under suspicion, especially, Kay Mostyn’s maid, Louise (Cheyne Hossack),who speaks fluent French, and knows more than she lets on. Sadly, she too, becomes a victim. Several other passengers seem to attract attention too, for example, German, Doctor Bessner (Michael Alizzi), who always has a medical needle on hand.  

As usual in an Agatha Christie thriller, her characters   reflect  those from various  levels  in  society; For instance, the aunt of Christina Grant, (Madelyn Scott), Miss FFoliot-FFoulkes (Linda Morgan), a snobby nosed and affected woman, opens the play with a positive energy and humour, engaging the audience with her timing, and line-delivery, as she nailed the comedic genre her role demanded.

Christie has written the play in two Acts, and with-in each Act, there are two scenes, constructed in such a way as to allow tension and conflict  to develop at the end of each scene; this technique deepens the level of audience interest and anticipation.

The rather limited stage space accommodated a set which was constructed to indicate an outside deck area on each side of the observation saloon, where the main action takes place. The set, was decorated with some genuine Egyptian props, brought back from Egypt, which complimented the scenic design and concept. Painted buildings seen from the steamer were indicated through the Perspex windows, some of which were open at times and the lighting was kept simple. The furniture used, reflected the style found on a cruise steamer, as was evidenced in a TV documentary presented by Joanna Lumley, when she cruised the River Nile. Murder on The Nile is well directed, although it was a tight fit on a small stage, and included some new actors to the theatre; this production provided audience with an enjoyable, quality, community theatre experience.