John Frost for Crossroads Live. Her Majesty’s Theatre. 3 Aug 2025
Agatha Christie's 1939 novel has had a challenging titling history. It was first published as Ten Little Niggers after the 1869 minstrel song. And Then There Were None was the title of the first US edition in 1940 - the American response to their bespoke racial situation. It was also published as Ten Little Indians in the US. Oh, boy. UK editions use the original title until 1985, which is both amazing and distasteful. Whatever it’s called, it’s the world's best-selling mystery - over 100 million copies. Agatha Christie also wrote the play in 1943, which was performed in the UK under all three titles.
Theatre doyenne and director Robyn Nevin brought Agatha Christie’s The Mouse Trap to Adelaide in 2023. The Mousetrap is the world’s longest running play, since 1952. The only mystery about The Mousetrap is that it's been running so long. Christie, presumably a woman of her time and unfazed by minority or disability appellations, originally called the play Three Blind Mice. Oh, woke is me.
Although written first, Christie built a better mousetrap with And Then There Were None. There are more murders, it’s eviler, and it's more gruesome. Set in an isolated house on an isolated island off Devon, eight people arrive by boat, thanks to unexpected invitations, and are greeted by the married domestic staff. Turns out nobody knows the hosts. And somewhere on the island, there is a cat amongst these pigeons.
Stylish costumes look bright and gay and 40’s fashionable against the battleship grey of a desirable modernist mansion room designed after American architect Richard Neutra. Set and costume designer Dale Ferguson intelligently utilised this US connection from Christie’s novel. The big expanse of windows invite opportunities for dramatic skies to match the action that were largely missed.
There is plenty of Coward-ly repartee and more accents than a French novel. The action accelerates to the final reveal and witty recriminations rise with the body count. It's fun to guess who is responsible for all the mysterious murderous mayhem. Characterisations are lovingly lavished by the ensemble, yet Christie is ungenerous in giving actors opportunities to break free of stereotypes. Director Robyn Nevin does her best to help, but until the juicy end, persons sitting next to suspected murderers don't seem overly perturbed. Actors with the best roles look the best. What is locked into the script is an expose of prejudices, self-justification and excuses for monstrous behaviour.
Robin Nevin’s production is slick and beautiful to behold. And Then There Were None is not only your classic murder mystery but also a great drama on the human condition, and one begging juxtaposition with the current political upheaval. A must see for the Christie tragics, or if you’re curious where Midsomer Murders comes from.
PS. The game of Cluedo was released in the same year, 1943, that Christie wrote this play. The murder mystery held its fascination even in the midst of World War II.
David Grybowski
When: 3 to 16 Aug
Where: Her Majesty’s Theatre
Bookings: andthentherewerenone.com.au
