Death on the Nile – Gaiety Theatre – Review
DATES: 21st Apr. – 25th Apr.

Find out more about this production here. 

Hercule Poirot (Mark Hadfield) really can’t catch a break. Every time he’s on holiday, someone dies! This time out, Hercule is vacationing in Egypt when the unexpected (?) happens. He is on a cruise down the Nile River with a collection of the bright and the beautiful. We meet Linnet Doyle (née Ridgeway, played by Libby Alexandra-Cooper) and her newlywed husband, Simon Doyle (Nye Occomore). There is the well-known actor Septimus Troy (Terence Wilton), who has fallen on hard times. There’s Salome Otterbourne (Glynis Barber, who played Sergeant Makepeace from Dempsey and Makepeace), a would-be actor, after trying her hand at painting, sculpting and writing novels. To add some spice to the mix, Linnet’s best friend and Simon’s former fiancée, Jacqueline de Bellefort (Esme Hough), is also on board, stalking the couple. These, along with several other characters, are all suspects when one of the passengers is found dead! They all have motive, and only Poirot can solve this crime…

Death on the Nile is a mystery novel by Agatha Christie, published in 1937. At this point, Christie was arguably at the peak of her career, having been a bestselling author for over 15 years. Amazingly, this was the 18th book to feature Poirot, who was already a well-known fictional detective. Death on the Nile has spawned many movie adaptations, including the 1978 feature film version starring Peter Ustinov, Bette Davis, Mia Farrow and Maggie Smith. More recently, Kenneth Branagh directed and starred in a version including Annette Bening, Dawn French and Gal Gadot, which was released in 2022.

This production was adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig and directed by Lucy Bailey, and both deserve much credit for making this night a lot more fun than expected. There is a lot of humour in the characters, and the actors are visibly enjoying themselves on stage. With the majority of the locations being on board the boat, you would expect some mundane staging, but this production makes considerable effort to catch the eye. They use the simple effect of layered louvre doors, which are pulled forward and back to create diverse staging. There is also a second platform above the stage, which allows for quick scene changes. It is an inventive and satisfying approach by Designer Mike Britton. These slatted louvre doors also allow lighting designer Oliver Fenwick to display his talents. The 1930s are known for their glamorous clothing, which the female characters get to show off throughout the production.

Many people are fans of this style of nostalgic cosy crime, and the name Agatha Christie draws a ready-made audience. It’s a safe night at the theatre, where you know the bad guys will get their comeuppance and you can spend the night guessing whodunnit. If you’re a fan of the genre or are looking for a night out, this production is a cut above average, putting attention into many small facets to make this a highly entertaining affair.