The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie

A stranger lost in the fog… an isolated house… a brutal murder… a houseful of suspects. They’re all familiar ingredients in a murder mystery, but few crime writers can weave them into a compelling tale with the deftness of Agatha Christie, and it was a sheer delight to witness the Agatha Christie Theatre Company performing this famous play at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre on the 9th November.

An all-star cast, including stage and screen legend Susan Penhaligon, EastEnders star Dean Gaffney and BBC presenter Richard Blackwood, breathed life into the characters in a subtle, complex tale of deceit.

As is typical with Agatha Christie’s work, the play was extraordinarily well paced, an uncomfortable atmosphere of tension gradually building as the characters’ motivations became clear. A gradual drip-feed of facts turned the archetypal “whodunnit?” scenario into something far richer and more rewarding.

Even in terms of stage design, the play came up trumps - a relatively sparse room contrasted starkly with the bold African frescoes above, like the events of the past overshadowing the present to terrible effect. Themes of cruelty, loyalty and seething resentment made for uncomfortable viewing, while a succession of twists and red herrings kept everyone guessing until the final shattering exposition.

An outstanding cast delivering sterling performances, a taut script, and engaging stage direction - these are the hallmarks of a truly great night at the theatre, and all were present at this outstanding production.

To find out more about this show, click here to visit the Blackpool Grand Theatre website.