LANGLEY – When it comes to solving murders, Miss Marple is in a class by herself. She may be the amateur sleuth, but her investigative work generally surpasses any professional’s.
That’s never more true than in “A Murder is Announced,” one of Dame Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple mysteries, currently on stage at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts.
Director Don Wilkins, a transplanted Londoner with credentials from The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, is particularly adept at staging Christie’s work. Especially from the actors who play the more flamboyant characters in this play, he wrings just the right comic essence.
Jason Dittmer’s set design conveys a fitting gentrified air in the English parlor where the action takes place, with such realistic trimmings as wainscoting, radiator, sideboard, overstuffed chair and the like. Even the WICA lobby is done up for this production like an English pub-tea room in post-and-beam style.
The production opens with a black and white newsreel proclaiming the death of rich businessman Randall Goedler, then switches to the parlor of Letitia Blacklock (Gail Fleming). Letitia (“Aunt Lettie”) is seated with her niece Julia (Brooke Weaver), who bickers with nephew Patrick (Brian Plebanek).
On this Friday the 13th, Lettie’s bumbling boarder, Dora “Bunny” Bunner (Patsy Brereton) searches for the local paper. When at last it’s found, the group reads an announcement that a murder is to take place at 6:30 that evening.
Lettie’s servant Mitzi (Gail Liston) is a standout character, all paranoia and histrionics. She’s a Hungarian refugee who’s seen enough of the secret police and interrogation. It’s quite a laugh as she turns an otherwise low-key criminal investigation into her own inner drama.
Miss Marple (Mary Kay Hallen) seems to be the only down-to-earth figure among a lot of flighty souls here. She sports a cape, hat, bag (complete with knitting supplies), brown boots, glasses and pearl sweater clasp. With her suspicions that all here are not who they say they are, or as innocent as they appear, she discreetly delights in bringing disquiet and anxiety into the otherwise genteel parlor.
“If there’s a murder, there must be a victim,” she says. “The question I’d be asking myself is, ‘Who’s going to be murdered?’”
| “A Murder is Announced”: Through Feb. 25, Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, 565 Camano Ave., Langley; 360-221-8268, 800-638-7631, www.wicaonline.com.on |
Soon, mayhem erupts as an intruder is shot dead.
Filling out the group of suspects are Edmund Swettenham (Jason Dittmer) and his mother Clara (Leah Green), as well as Phillipa Haymes (Kathy Stanley).
Miss Marple seems to taunt Inspector Craddock (George T.F. Henny) with the reality that she’s way ahead of him in figuring out whodunit. She mockingly asks him, “When you read mysteries, do you turn to the last page?” Having long since solved the case, she sits and knits as he goes through his investigative paces.
Kent Junge brings good physical comedy, born of angst, to the role of Sgt. Mellors. As he and the inspector discuss suspects, Craddock isn’t so sure the intruder’s death was an accident. Yet again, Miss Marple has done her homework before he has, announcing some surprising developments. As the final act unfolds, much mistaken identity gets sorted out on the way to solving the mystery.
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