The current trend of having the dimly lit stage and set exposed to the audience as they enter the auditorium rather spoils the first big thrill of the evening. The set for Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee is truly magnificent and the wow moment of having it revealed in all its glory and with full lighting was breathtaking. The lofty art deco room, designed by Simon Scullion, with all the trimmings was truly stunning. Bill Kenwright’s Agatha Christie Theatre Company is now in its eighth year and always provides good value with no expense or trouble spared on its productions. Black Coffee is no exception.
This was Agatha Christie’s first play and a reviewer in the Observer of 12th April 1931 commentated petulantly: “Black coffee is supposed to be a strong stimulant and powerful enemy of sleep. I found the title optimistic.” Christie herself was to say of the piece, “… a conventional spy thriller, full of clichés, it was, I think, not at all bad.”
Her comment is hard to argue with. And it’s probably best to avoid more drink analogies. Black Coffee is simply a charming portal into 1920’s England, genteel, quaint, dreamily going about its business, and where all things are supposedly wizard until the blackmailing and murdering dares to upset the equilibrium.
Jason Durr took over from Robert Powell who played Hercule Poirot when this tour opened. He has some pretty big boots to fill. Poirot is a heavyweight character with whom we are all familiar and has been notably played by Peter Ustinov, Albert Finney and, of course, the definitive David Suchet. Mr Durr is not particularly well cast as the Belgian detective but, against the odds, managed to play his hand well and bring a certain charm to the part.
Apart from a bit of over-acting at the beginning, the rest of the cast was generally very good. Robin McCullum, as Poirot’s side-kick Captain Hastings, was remarkably like the bloke who plays him on the telly and had just the right amount of eager nerdiness. It was nice to see Liza Goddard again looking wonderful in elegant costumes and I particularly liked Eric Carte as Inspector Japp. Although in a relatively small part, and always having to play Bruce Welch to Poirot’s Hank Marvin, he brought a good deal of humour and down to earth common sense to the proceedings. Ric Recate, as the murderee, only had a cough, a spit and a slump but still managed to impress.
Black Coffee is probably not one of Agatha Christie’s best plays but this was a fine, entertaining production and while perhaps style did not quite triumph over content, it came pretty close. ★★★☆☆ Michael Hasted
Black Coffee is at the Oxford Playhouse until 30th August
