‘Towards Zero’ // St Luke’s Theatre Society

‘Towards Zero’ was intriguing.

A dead body, lies and suspense…. St Luke’s Theatre Society’s production of Towards Zero had all the trademarks of a typical Agatha Christie murder-mystery.

The play, which is a 1956 stage adaptation of the 1944 novel, follows the story of house party which takes place at the seaside home of Lady Tressilian. Tension arises between the guests as Neville has invited his wife, Kay and his ex-wife Audrey, thinking that they will be mature enough to get along with each other for the holiday.

The dramatic action of the play starts out quite slowly as the audience gains information about the background of each character and their relationships with each other. Once the murder has occurred, the tension quickly escalates as everyone becomes a suspect and the audience tries to connect information to solve the puzzle and work out who they think might have had the motive and the means to commit the crime.

Linda Morgan plays the role of the elegant Lady Tressilian. Morgan’s experience in acting was evident as she commanded the stage in this role. With perfect diction, she embraced all the facets of the wealthy, well-spoken dame, physically embodying her presence and poise.

Likewise, Philippa Dwyer was superb in the role of the mysterious ex-wife, Audrey Strange. Dwyer managed the elusive character with subtle facial expressions and sideways glances to keep the audience guessing what her true intentions were.

The leading male roles of Matthew Treves and Neville Strange were played by Eddie Bruce and Matthew Hobbs. Bruce had the lion’s share of the lengthy passages, with his character playing a pivotal role in the unravelling of the mystery. Bruce handled the delivery masterfully, managing the sensitive moments and the intense fast-paced dialogue while maintaining his status. Hobbs had the difficult task of dealing with the relationships of two ‘wives’ on stage and demonstrated great flexibility in his vocal delivery to reveal the depth and complexity of his character. The chemistry and synergy with his fellow actors was captivating and believable.

Rounding out the cast was Amy Bent, playing the annoyingly precious Kay Strange with some beautiful moments of comedy, balanced with Brendan James playing the larrikin, Ted Latimar. James looked extremely comfortable on stage and was perfectly cast in this role. Madelyn Scott, Nathan Seng, Robert Connaughton and Jonathan Knox each held their own in supporting roles to immerse the audience into the mystery.

The production was visually delightful with an elegantly crafted set, authentic props, functional and period appropriate furniture and effective costuming. Keen eyes appreciated the attention to small details, such as the period style doorknob, suitcases, vintage radio, encyclopedias, hair styles and French doors leading to the balcony. Brett Simpson’s set design made the relatively small stage appear as though each door was leading to a much larger space. While lighting in this space was limited, the production made good use of the technology available. Technical elements included lightning, thunder and rain to effectively indicate a storm. It might have been nice to have the same suspenseful music that bookended the show used in some of the scene changes, even though these were handled with speed.

Director Sharon White has achieved a very cohesive production which kept the audience engaged. Testament to this was the sold-out audience, packed into the hall ready to be entertained.

Community theatres come in all shapes and sizes, but St Luke’s Theatre society, located in Cork St at Yeronga is a wonderfully wholesome experience. Ticket price includes refreshment at interval and a program. A raffle and stall raising funds for charity and Mary’s famous easter bunny shortbread biscuits – what more could anyone ask for? If you are a fan of murder-mysteries and want to see a quality, entertaining show with a great community atmosphere – head to St Luke’s Theatre Society for a great night out.

Towards Zero performs until Saturday 23rd March at St Luke’s Theatre Society, Yeronga. For more information visit their website.