The Stranger at The Priory

Mrs Higgins (Cheryl Ryan) and Doris (Becky Young) Photo courtesy of The Priory.

The Stranger by Agatha Christie, The Priory Theatre, Kenilworth, from 4 - 14 September 2024. Directed by Bev Avis-Dakin.

Review by Ann Evans

It was interesting to read in the programme that The Stranger was one of Agatha Christie's lesser-known works. In fact, Agatha Christie, the world's best-selling fiction writer with more than 2 billion copies of her novels sold, never got to see this play published or performed in her lifetime.

The Stranger started life as a short story - entitled Phillomel Cottage which Dame Agatha Christie wrote in 1924. Later she re-wrote it as a 3-act play and changed the title to The Stranger. True to Christie's intentions, the Priory along with Director Bev Avis-Dakin also put their production on as a 3-act play.

Enid (Katie Newman) and her long-time boyfriend Dick Lane (Lewis Nunn) Photo courtesy of the Priory Theatre.

Act 1 takes place in a London flat that Enid Bradshaw (Katie Newman) shares with her friend Doris (Becky Young). It’s March 1929 and Doris is chatting to the cleaner, Mrs Higgins (Cheryl Ryan) about the fact that Enid’s long-standing boyfriend, Dick Lane (Lewis Nunn) is returning after years away to marry Enid.

It’s instantly obvious that this is very much an upper class/working class relationship between the lady of the house and the cleaner, with excellent performances by both – but exceptionally funny characterisation by Cheryl Ryan who hasn’t a good word to say about men. (If you’ve ever watched Coronation Street – Hilda Ogden eat your heart out!)

Gerald Strange (Jonathan Farrer) and Enid (Katie Newman) Photo courtesy of the Priory Theatre.

Mrs Higgins lets her feelings be known as she flits about with the feather duster. Her attitude being that you simply cannot trust men – Agatha Christie hammering home a few personal opinions perhaps! (She wrote this not long after her divorce) A fact, I think that wasn’t lost on the audience and there was plenty of laughter and even a bit of audience interaction in this thriller, which made for an enjoyable atmosphere.

Enter the very sweet and naïve Enid with her ultra upper-class plummy accent which actually soon grows on you. We also meet Dick, who clearly appears too dull for Enid. Then comes the stranger into Enid’s life – Mr Gerald Strange (Jonathan Farrer) a smooth talking, seemingly pleasant man who very quickly persuades Enid to marry him rather than Dick.

Act 2 is three months later, Enid and Gerald Strange are married and living in a remote country cottage. She is blissfully happy and oblivious to Gerald's coercive and manipulative ways. They also have a maid – Mrs Birch, again a fabulously funny performance by Cheryl Ryan who dons a totally different personality and takes it to its limits!  

The cast relax after the show. L-R: Cheryl Ryan, Katie Newman, Lewis Nunn, Becky Young, Jonathan Farrer. Photo by Ann Evans.

No spoilers but things become sinister, Gerald's true personality very gradually seeps out. Enid comes to her senses over Gerald but it’s too late – the clock is ticking – literally. The tension rises but then comes the brilliance of Agatha Christie's plotting and things presented to the audience so subtly early on in the story become the absolute pinnacle of importance by Act 3.

Great acting by Enid and a sinister performance by Gerald Strange, with a very cleverly written twist in the tail. But what else would you expect from the wonderful Agatha Christie especially when coupled with such a talented cast and creatives that we have for this production.

For tickets go to: https://www.priorytheatre.co.uk/