This was my 3rd time seeing this play but the first since their forced “interval”. The worlds longest running play is now in its 69th year and I saw performance 28,413. Knowing who done it doesn’t spoil future visits as you can spot more clues.
I got a front-row day seat from the official website for the play, and the day seat cost £19.52 (as 1952 was the year it opened). As the curtain went up, I could smell the musty old wooden furniture on the set (even through a mask), but it went away after a few minutes, and I could see the props very well – although one photo frame on the mantle pies seemed to be empty.
There was an understudy Paddy Duff as Detective Sgt Trotter, and he did very well in that role as did everyone else in Agatha Christie’s classic murder mystery featuring very popular fashions of a dark coat, light scarf, and dark felt hat – perhaps they should add those items to their merchandise!
The matinee wasn’t particularly crowded, which was a shame for the show – but very good for social distancing, and I was pleasantly surprised that over half the audience were doing their bit by wearing face coverings (putting many big-budget musical productions to shame on the mask from)!
It had a surprising amount of laughs for a murder mystery and (with the Play that Goes Wrong) is one of only 2 productions currently in the West End that I have seen 3 times each – and I would be willing to see both a 4th time.
9/10
