Director Ian Rigney has tackled  this gem, with devilish glee .With good old-fashioned plot twists  and stolen identities, it has the facility to thrill modern audiences by reversing all our expectations.  Not even the most perspicacious can pick who actually” dunnit.”

This production is jolly good fun even though the first act is a little slow-ish but it does pick up pace after  interval.

Don Oswald’s  set is meticulously detailed, as are the costumes by Gilian Cordell and Mary Formosa, all redolent of early 1950’s.

Lighting by Jason Groves works well with some rather startling effects, though some of John Koch’s accompanying sound effects were not always particularly scary.

The cast are uniformly satisfying in their roles, looking for the most part, quite English middle class. As Inspector Craddock, Lindsay Dunn  was suitably grumpy but nonetheless always seemed to have the right card up his sleeve. Anna Pike delivered a delicious Miss Marple-calm, self- assured and seemingly knowing all along  who the villain was.

 As the central character Letitia Blacklock, Nikki Fort struggled at times to keep the pace cracking along but understandable perhaps considering her particular circumstances. Zoe Dibb as the nutty Hungarian au pair gave a delightful, comic performance, revealing a nice sense of timing, as did the experienced Jude Brennan as Dora “Bunny” Bunning. All other  performers contributed well  to the mystery and fun of an impossible plot.

From audience reaction on opening night, I doubt  Agatha Christie has passed her use by date!!