Whodunnit shows there's no mystery to why Twenty Club has hit 80

 llanblogger review

                        * Above and below: scenes from Murder on the Nile.

Until the end of this week Llangollen Twenty Club are presenting a play based on a 1937 novel by Agatha Christie, known as the Queen of Mystery. 

But for anyone watching Murder on the Nile at the Town Hall for the next three nights or at the Saturday matinee there will be nothing mysterious about why this famous local drama group has been entertaining audiences so well for 80 years this year.

It's simply because they're so damned good!

This particular Christie whodunnit arrived in London's West End in 1946, the exact same year the Twenty Club first hit the stage in Llangollen, so it evokes the same era of glamorous period fashion, luxurious riverboat travel on a Nile paddle steamer and high-society class dynamics typical of British colonial and upper-class tourism in Egypt, where it is set.

It's also packed with secrets, jealousy, romance and, of course, murder most foul.

Set builders and the superb dozen-strong cast have pulled out all the stops to recreate the steamy, exotic atmosphere of a waterborne trip through Egypt, even arranging for a couple of pesky bead sellers to hustle not just the passengers but also members of the audience as they enter the hall.

Rather than the having the expected Belgian detective solving the murderous puzzles, taking the lead in this production is a probing priest named Canon Ambrose Pennefather, played with aplomb by old Twenty Club hand Kevin Williams.

Ranged around him are a band of the more usual Christiean suspects such as elderly British battleaxe Miss Ffoliot-ffoulkes, played as brilliantly as ever by another Club regular Helen Belton, her shrinking violet of a niece Christina Grant, portrayed well by newcomer Isabella Crowther, and the ever-present Egyptian steward, brought marvellously to life by another Club stalwart John Clifford.

There for excellent measure are two more possible suspects, the posh boy with communist tendencies William Smith, a part handled expertly by Aled Morris, and German-accented doctor Dr Bessner, perfectly played by Ally Goodman who has a handy history with this group.

At the very heart of the dark deeds are a very competent George Williams as chancer Simon Mostyn, Bev Maier as his wife Kay Mostyn who fits her role like a glove and Serena Young putting in a highly believable performance as the woman who does her best to come between them, Jacqueline de Severac. Louisa Jones switches from her more usual appearances with Llangollen Operatic Society to produce a first-rate interpretation as Louise, Kay Mostyn's French maid.

Those annoying bead sellers are neatly played by real life dad-and-daughter team Chris and Bethan Williams.

Production values are high in the hands of Serena Young, who doubles as producer and actor, and the whole, enjoyable show comes courtesy of director Emily Swindley.

Murder on the Nile is on nightly at 7.30pm with a 2.30pm matinee this Saturday.

* Tickets, at £14 and £12 concessions, are available now at Llangollen Oggie Shop, Courtyard Books and online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollentwentyclub