Murder and mayhem as Castle Players present Agatha Christie mystery

The Castle Players are busy putting the finishing touches on their production of Agatha Christie’s The Hollow which will run for four nights from Wednesday April 17 in An Táin Arts Centre.

Described as “a thriller of passion and betrayal” The Hollow was first published as a novel in 1946 and was originally a very successful Poirot story. However, having “grown tired of her Belgian detective” Agatha Christie removed Poirot from the story when she adapted it for the stage, preferring instead to “let the whole cast shine”.

Set in The Hollow, the stately home of Sir Henry and Lady Angkatell, the plays sees the couple looking forward to a civilised weekend entertaining Dr John Cristow, a suave Harley Street doctor, and his seemingly dim wife Gerda. As fans of Christie will guess, their plans are thrown into disarray by the inconvenience of a murder.

At the helm are Irene Barr and Paul Casey. Irene plays lady Angkatell, the charismatic, if somewhat eccentric hostess. Her only wish is for Ainswick, her ancestral home, to remain in the family. Paul plays the distinguished Sir Henry, an ex-governor of India and a man capable of keeping his composure as Lady Angkatell’s chaos flitters around him.

Brian Halpin takes on the role of Dr John Cristow, the lothario who seems to have it all and is oblivious to the feelings of those around him, especially his much put upon wife Gerda, brilliantly played by Siobhan Rankin.

Angela Hanna will play Henriett Anketell a successful sculptress and cousin of Sir Henry. She is a close friend of Gerda’s but that doesn’t stop her from being her husband’s mistress.

Edward Angkatell, who inherited the Ainswick estate and, much to the annoyance of Lady Angkatell, remains unmarried, is played by Peter Hoey.

Melissa Casey is Midge Hardcastle, the warm-hearted, proud but poor relation, while Madhavi Pasapula plays Veronica Craye, a Hollywood actress and femme fatale who has rented a cottage nearby.

Inspector Colquhoun, Niall McCann, and Sergeant Penny, Adrienne Whelan, need to keep their wits about them as they try to untangle the web of lies woven around them.

Newcomers to the stage, Shane Kelly and Siobhan DeBhal, play Gudgeon the ever-faithful butler, and Dorris the under-housemaid.

This production of The Hollow is the vision of co-directors Nigel Clinton and Pat McKenna. They are ably assisted by Nessa Toale, Debbie McKenna, Valerie Rogers, Kayleigh McCabe, Siobhan Owens, Charlotte McBride, Deirdre Kerr and David McKenna.

Tickets are available from the booking office at An Tain Arts Centre, Crowe Street, by phone 9332332 or online www. antain.ie