Spider’s Web

Farnworth Little Theatre.

Runs until Saturday

THIS lesser known Agatha Christie offering has all the usual ingredients from the queen of crime – a country drawing room in the 1930s, a heroine in need of assistance, a smattering of clues and, of course, a murder.

Director Andrew Close plants his tongue firmly in cheek as we are first addressed by the murderer and told to look for the clues, solve the case by the interval and submit our solution into a competition!

Donna Cubbage leads the cast confidently as endearing hostess Clarissa, charmingly stacking up lies for all the right reasons.

There were plenty of laughs too from the appreciative audience, in the main supplied by Carol Butler’s eccentric gardener Mildred Peake and Kev Walsh as Clarissa’s admirer Jeremy Warrender, and a promising performance from Amber Sargent.

Sarah Hassall again triumphs with the set, with a magnificent frieze adorning the walls and a seamless secret panel integral to the plot. Phil Brookes’ lighting is also impressive as the darkness descends outside and the drawing room is transformed into cosy lamplight, and costumes complement the period feel of the play.

Peter Haslam