There’s something comfortingly familiar about watching an Agatha Christie play. After all, she’s known throughout the world as the ‘queen of crime’ and is the most widely published author of all time. Her famous ‘whodunnit’ formula is predictably intriguing. What I wasn’t expecting in this brand-new production of Rachel Wagstaff’s acclaimed adaptation of The Mirror Crack’d, however, was the clever use of wit and humour.

This thrilling story of revenge and dark secrets - brought to the stage by The Original Theatre Company - is set in 1960s rural England. The residents of the village of St Mary Mead are struggling to cope with the march of progress: a new housing estate is being built, and a strange new way of shopping is being introduced, at a place called a ‘super - market’! Equally unsettling for the locals is the fact that the village’s Manor House has been bought by rich but ageing American film star Marina Gregg (played by Sophie Ward) and her husband, Jason Rudd (Joe McFadden).

The play starts with main character - and Agatha Christie’s famous sleuth - Jane Marple. An elderly spinster, she is confined to a chair with a badly sprained ankle, feeling sorry for herself and wondering if life might have passed her by. But news of a shocking murder at a party at the Manor House soon has Miss Marple doing what she does best: solving the crime by unravelling a web of lies - a web which, on this occasion, results in more than one death...

Susie Blake brings a surprising sense of warmth and fun to the character of Miss Marple. As always, Christie’s spinster sleuth disguises her effective detective skills by blending into the background. To the unobservant, she presents as a sweet old lady who enjoys knitting, gardening and non-malicious gossiping. This unassuming facade means she is often overlooked, which gives her the freedom to pursue the truth and solve the murders. Chief Inspector Craddock, played by Oliver Boot, accentuates her perceived character by acting towards her in a pompous and patronising manner. He fails to recognise her ability to build rapport and engage empathically, encouraging people to speak to her with their guard down.

Following the first death from a poisoned strawberry daiquiri, the story unfolds using flashbacks played out to Miss Marple. This is imaginatively achieved via creative choreography and a clever use of lighting, sound and set. The characters slow down, freeze frame and rewind. As secrets emerge, the events regarding the murder are re-enacted from different perspectives and viewpoints. Conversations, confrontations and collisions of the facts provide Miss Marple with the information she needs to identify the murderer and the tragic truth behind their actions.

This is a great adaptation of a classic Agatha Christie murder-mystery. The whole cast were impressive, never missing a beat in what was both a fast-paced and vibrant interpretation. If you enjoy an exciting, well acted, thought-provoking evening at the theatre, I can highly recommend The Mirror Crack’d.

Four stars

Reviewed by Sue Hull at Malvern Theatres on Tuesday 15 November where The Mirror Crack'd continues to show until Saturday 19 November. The production returns to the Midlands in 2023 to play The Alexandra, Birmingham, from Tuesday 14 to Saturday 18 February