As someone who enjoys reading Agatha Christie, I was interested to see how this one would adapt to the stage – and the answer is, while a rather convoluted plot, in the hands of the Apollo Players it translated very well.

It’s a sign of a thriving society when you see familiar long-term members taking the stage alongside relative – or indeed complete – newcomers, and the eleven-strong cast was a great mix of the ‘old’ and the new (no reference to age intended).

Casting Ellen Weeks as the redoubtable Miss Marple was an excellent choice – she provides the calm presence (even though openly irritated by her injured ankle) coupled with insight – ‘I know people’ she tells the Inspector – sorry, Chief Inspector – and she’s right. Two more very experienced actors provide a solid base for the play: Jason Harris as the above-mentioned Chief Inspector Dermot Craddock, brought in to solve the mystery of who poisoned a guest at the Gossington Hall party, brings his ability to portray a complex character to the role. Under the bluff exterior of the always-on-duty police officer, Jason shows us the vulnerable human being. Apollo stalwart Maggie Cardew is also on top form as Marple’s friend Dolly Bantry, a typical country lady of the manor, who has been forced to sell Gossington Hall, but retains her interest in the house – and a sharp eye for the behaviour of its new inhabitants!

Another familiar face on the Apollo stage is Ian Moth, playing Jason Rudd, film director and husband of the film star Marina Gregg. Again, Ian’s stage experience shows, while Donna Thornal as Marina, while a relative newcomer to the Apollo, shines as the complex Marina, the apparent intended victim of the murder. As her story gradually emerges, the audience is invited to empathise with her – but should we?

Nicola Chastney is a perfect Heather Leigh: a huge fan of Marina’s work, Heather is delighted to meet her heroine, and Nicola brings her musical show experience from other theatre groups to her first ‘straight’ play role, portraying Heather perfectly. Gary Smith gives a brilliantly understated performance as her husband Cyril, and two more new actors also shine in their roles. Chloe Haines is a bright, bubbly and down to earth Cherry Baker, Miss Marple’s cleaner, while Rosanna Parker as Lola, an up and coming film star, is suitably nervous when in the presence of the more experienced and famous Marina.

Completing the supporting cast are Mark Duffus as butler Guiseppe, Tom Hilton in a couple of cameo roles – good to see him onstage – and director Carol Death who stepped into the role of Marina’s PA Ella Zielinsky. Carol is to be congratulated not only on taking on the role at short notice but on a very successful directing debut. With a complicated plot – one issue was the length of the script and the inclusion of a few conversations which did not move the story along – interspersed with numerous flashbacks and a large cast, sometimes all on stage at once, this is not an easy show to direct. The set is kept simple, standing for three different places, separated by differentiated lighting – while this supported the pace and I followed the plot without a problem, I think perhaps a couple of props to indicate a change of scene might have helped, but this is a small criticism of a play which was very entertaining – and sometimes frustrating as I tried to work out the ending.

So whodunnit? You’ll have to watch the show to find out….