“Murder On The Nile” by Bonington Players
Bonington Theatre, Arnold.

Kay Mostyn has led a charmed life. Blessed with beauty, enormous wealth, and a new husband, she embarks on a honeymoon voyage down the Nile.

Fatal circumstances await when the idyllic surroundings are shattered by a shocking and brutal murder. Under scrutiny is a multitude of memorable passengers, all with a reason to kill. The tension and claustrophobia builds, as a shocking and audacious conspiracy is laid bare in this murder mystery set on a river cruiser.

I've not had the pleasure of seeing this Agatha Christie classic and therefore didn't know who had done it, so as a first timer to this murder mystery, I really became engulfed in the story and characters.

Being Christie the play is wordy but she builds great characters with plenty of red herrings and twists along the way.

A talented and able cast built the tension and presented some wonderful characters.

The Steward (Gail Tomlinson), the wonderfully upper crust and bossy Miss Ffoliot-Ffolkes (Val Petty), Christina Grant - the afore mentioned niece and dogsbody (Abi Hemmings), Smith - who is hiding something from the rest of the travellers ( Eddie Januszcsyk), Luisa (Enrica Laprocina), Dr Bessner (Philip Chapman), Kay Mostyn (Helen Holbrook), Simon Mostyn (Luke Bratton), Canon Pennefather (Tony Tomlinson), Jacqueline de Severac (Lauren Hodkin) and McNaught (Matt Davies), all turned in very classy performances.

An absolutely marvellous set, painted by several of the theatre group and dressed by Linda Whitehurst.

The sound design by David Goatham transported you away to 1930's Egypt and created an imaginary out of sight Egyptian community, trying to sell the guests boarding their wares. David also designed the lighting.

One thing about the eras that Christie sets her novels in, means that the costumes are going to be fantastic and The Bonington Players have provided an absolutely wonderful wardrobe for this one. Very glamorous and stylish.

A packed theatre gave a well deserved rapturous show of appreciation for this wonderful production.

“Murder On the Nile” is at The Bonington Theatre, Arnold until Saturday 28 April 2018