"Love From A Stranger" by Tabs Productions

The Colin McIntyre Classic Thriller Season 2023.

Nottingham Theatre Royal.

Written by Agatha Christie and adapted for the stage by Frank Vosper, this is one of Christie's lesser known and performed works.

Cecily Harrington has led a staid and proper existence. After winning a large amount of money in a sweepstake she desperately yearns for a life of adventure. Enter Bruce Lovell, a handsome and charming stranger who sweeps her off her feet after coming to view the flat that she has put up to rent. In a whirlwind romance, she recklessly abandons her job, friends and fiancé to settle in the remote and blissful surroundings of a country cottage with Lovell. However, her newfound “love from a stranger” is not what it seems and in an astonishingly tense final scene, Cecily discovers the grisly truth about her new love.

This is one of those stories where you think you know what is going to happen and to whom, or maybe one of the other characters in the play returns to the house just in time to save the day. There are several characters who could have the opportunity to do this, but which one might it be. Any Agatha Christie fan knows that her stories always have at least one or two twists in, but this is one such play where I can honestly say that I did not expect this outcome!

Bruce Lovell is a charming, good looking, rich young man who takes the opportunity to charm Cecily when he spots her weakness. Played by David Osmond, he ropes you in until little things in the character seem to jarr, but what could it be? Good to see David back in the cast.

Cecily Harrington, played by Lara Lemon, is high class, just like Lara and you've got to love the clipped accent. She is the devoted little wife who dotes on her husband, even going as far as arranging for the doctor to keep a check on Lovett when his illness starts to show.

Mavis Wilson, played by Kia Pope, is Cecily's best friend, but their friendship is slightly tainted when Cecily dumps her fiancé, Nigel, and on a whim takes up with Lovett. Thankfully, Mavis is invited to Cecily and Bruce's new out of the way home in the country and the two best friends reconnect, just before Cecily and Bruce are due to go away.

Nigel Lawrence, the fiancé, is played by Pavan Maru. This is the first Thriller Season for this Leicester lad, and fits in well within the tight cast.

Hodgson, the gardener is just one of a few characters that add comedy to play, as well as inadvertently providing a major clue. Played by Sarah Wynne Kordas, I had to look several times because with the wig, costume and that accent, Sarah is almost unrecognisable. I've said this previously with her roles, and is one of a few actors who can be classed as chameleonic as she blends in anywhere without be recognised.

Ethel, the niece of Hodgson, is another wonderful comedy character. Ethel reminded me slightly of Alice Horton from The Vicar Of Dibley; the slightly loopy, always trying to please character. A brilliant role for Juliette Strobel.

Dr. Gribble is played by Jeremy Lloyd Thomas. Brought in to check the health of Lovette by Cecily, after Lovette's health started to become a worry to his wife. Gribble and Lovette have a shared passion in the books that they both read, and they also say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but for who?

Louise Garrard, Aunty Lou, is played by the formidable Susan Earnshaw. This is the sort of Aunty you want around. She is like a gentle hurricane blowing through your life. A brilliant comedy character, played by a brilliant comedy character actor in Susan.

Directed by Karen Henson, and I have probably said this before as well, but what Karen does not know about directing a successful play just isn't worth knowing. The pace, and there are several places where the silent gaps say so much about the action, the timing of the comedy and the natural feel of the dialogue and action is impeccable.

What I also noticed and loved was that as the play progressed in the second act, was that very gradually the set got darker, like an approaching menace was surrounding the room. What a clever way of creating atmosphere without it being too obvious.

One thing that I always know is going to be epic is the set design. In this play you almost get two completely different sets for the price of one. There is the flat where Cecily first meets Lovell, and then in the second act, a gorgeous country house. Sarah Wynne Kordas' set design is spectacularly good.

Michael Donoghue's Lighting Design comes into its' own, as I mentioned, midway through act two as the tension sets in and the story unpeels like an onion.

Another area that Tabs Productions excel in is that of Sound Design. Everything is timed to perfection as well as sound distancing, making you believe that the dog, barking it's head off through the French window style doors, is actually half way down the garden; or that car drawing up is actually approaching, or the telephone to your right is actually ringing. David Gilbrook's Sound Design is a work of aural art.

The film of the play of the book was done in 1937 I believe, which means that the costumes are also appropriate. Extremely classy and also depicting the class separation between the upstairs and downstairs characters. Geoff Gilder is the man behind the costume designs.

The Colin McIntyre Classic Thriller Season is now into it's 35th year, and you don't get to reach any milestone without being successful at what you do. This in itself is proof of the quality of workmanship from Tabs Productions. I always look forward to this time of year when the Thriller Season is back in Nottingham because I know that I am guaranteed the best in everything, and a story that gets your mind working overtime trying to work out who did what and to whom, before the inevitable deed is done.

The first of the four Classic Thrillers at the Nottingham Theatre Royal closes on Saturday 5 August.

Next week's Thriller is "Father Brown - A Crime At Christmas"