MURDER, Margaret and Me was not a play I had come across before and, although very much a murder mystery fan, have not read (or watched) much Agatha Christie.
So I was intrigued to find out more about the story behind the author and her relationship between her and film star Margaret Rutherford who went on to play Christie’s most famous character ‘Miss Marple’ on the big screen.
The true story, currently being performed by The Nonentities at Kidderminster’s Rose Theatre. is based on the two national treasures – Christie and Rutherford – who were the creative force behind one of British cinema’s most successful franchises.
But the Miss Marple movies were almost never made – Queen of Crime Christie, did not want Margaret Rutherford to bring her fabled spinster to life.
And Rutherford was mortified at the prospect of sullying her reputation with something as sordid as murder.
This play explores the real reason why the acting legend and ‘the funniest woman alive’ did not want to take on the role that made her celebrated across the world.
This is a primarily about the collision of two worlds and clash of two characters – both with strong beliefs about their lives, art and how things should be done.
And, after twists, turns tension between them seemingly around every corner, the pair form an unlikely but lasting friendship.
The cast
With this being a two-hour, three hander, a lot fell on the three actors taking part – all three were seldom off stage.
Picture by Colin Hill. sLaura Pearson perfectly portrayed genteel English author Christie with her prim and proper persona and clear passion for writing murder mysteries. She cleverly conveyed the character who lovingly switches between seriousness and wandering off in her creative head, coming up with elaborate murderous plots.
Likewise, Katy Ball was excellent as the exuberant – sometimes even child-like – Rutherford, strutting her stuff across the stage and telling tales from her celebrity past.
The way Pearson and Ball interacted with each other – from aggression and intense dislike to their warm, almost fuzzy, friendship at the end – was wonderful to watch. They bounced off each other brilliantly throughout this entire emotional roller-coaster.
And, in between the warring pair, and equally effective in her exchanges with the other two, was Joan Wakeman as The Spinster. You could tell she enjoyed every moment on the stage as the endearing, sometimes cheeky, go-between and ‘almost narrator’, keeping the audience up-to-speed. She also provided ‘the light among the shade’ with copious humorous observations – crucial to a piece with so much tension.
The action
All three characters persistently ‘break the fourth wall’ as they alternate between relaying their thoughts and feelings to those watching before interacting with each other and then back again.
The first half of the play – pretty much scene-setting for what was to come – was, I feel, more for Agatha Christie fans and a tad slow.
But, the second half was a much quicker-paced tour de force. It began with all three characters making humorous (almost stand-up in parts) observations about marriage.
Picture by Colin Hill. sAt the beginning of act two, Wakeman received some of the biggest laughs of the evening with these utterances, firmly cementing The Spinster’s place in the audience’s hearts.
And you could not take your eyes off Pearson and Ball as they delivered some impressive monologues which gripped us all as the play reached its climax.
Such was the writing, combined with the actors’ portrayals of their roles, you could hear a pin drop for the whole last 15 to 20 minutes as tragic times and shocking secrets were revealed and Christie’s and Rutherford’s stories were concluded.
In more than two decades of reviewing shows and longer watching them, I have never heard a theatre so silent for such a prolonged period of time.
Picture by Colin Hill. sMost of the audience probably headed home with mobile phones in hand to Wikipedia the factual elements of Margaret, Murder and Me (that’s exactly what I did). And if you do, it will confirm this was a real enthralling true tale that just had to be told – an incredible story you probably never knew and, having watched this show, wish you had been told it sooner.
The set
The set was simple but effective – providing the perfect backdrop for the characters to tell their story. The main part featured Christie’s writing room on the left, Rutherford’s home on the right and The Spinster’s domain in the middle, enabling her to easily flit between the two. A spotlight switched between the different set areas as each character’s story ‘took centre stage’.
The back was more versatile, providing a variety of venues, including Rutherford’s bedroom and Claridge’s Tea Room.
It was the combination of Philip Meeks’ script (best not forget the writer with the theme of this piece), Director Jen Eglinton and her team and the terrific trio on stage which made this show such a success.
The play runs until Saturday, May 17, with performances at 7.30pm each evening.
For tickets and more information, visit the Rose Theatre website: rosetheatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01562 743745 which is open between 10.30am and 12.30pm each weekday.
