Classic Christie. That describes Lamplighters' current offering, Go Back For Murder. The set-up, in this seldom-produced play based on her 1942 novel, "Five Little Pigs," Agatha Christie's heroine, Carla Crale (Katharine Tremblay), is intent on clearing her mother, Caroline Crale, of the murder of her husband, Amyas Crale, 16 years ago, when Carla was six years old.
The truth search begins when Canadian Carla returns to western England to consult with handsome solicitor Justin Fogg (Christopher Armour), the son of her mother's solicitor. Carla has brought her boyfriend, Jeff (Matthew Nichols), a cattleman. He is quickly dispensed with as a bit of a bore. Nichols' performance is short, but amusing.
Armour's Fogg is a proper Englishman who becomes smitten with this charming, if a bit delusional, Carla. After all, her mother was proven guilty. Carla enlists him to help her interview those who were at the crime scene 16 years prior. In the second act, Tremblay and Armour take on the roles of the mother, Caroline, and father, Amyas, recreating the two days that ended in the death of Amyas.
Armour and Tremblay's dual roles worked well. Armour's English accent is perfect. His portrayal of Fogg develops quite well as Fogg becomes increasingly intrigued with Carla and a slim potential of a miscarriage of justice. This is one of Armour's best roles. Tremblay, at times, is not convincing as the concerned daughter.
Were brothers Philip (Steven Jensen) or Meredith Blake (Clark Mires) capable of the murder? Jensen plays an unpleasant, but apparently honest, brother who disliked Caroline. Mires' character is charming, jovial and certainly not above falsehoods or, in the least, altering the truth. Wiley Ellis' talents are underused in his role as Justin's man, Turnball. We enjoy his few moments on stage.
Lois Corbett, as governess Miss Williams, had her own reason for disliking the Crales. She could turn on the charm when it was to her advantage. Her charge is CarolineÆs younger sister, Angela Warren (Domino Torres). She has been known for her pranks, which, sometimes, have gotten out of control. Torres almost pulls off, in actions, the younger Angela. However, some of her direction, such as skipping about in Act Two, doesn't play too well.
Finally, in the supporting cast is Elizabeth Updegraff as Elsa. Elsa modeled for artist Amyas. She also was out to destroy his marriage and marry him. Elsa is an elegant, even exotic, beauty, seemingly capable of murder. Updegraff plays this willful woman as a deceitful, tough charmer.
Director David Kievit's simple, arched set allows for the five Act One locations to be define simply by moving the same furniture around. While not totally convincing, the changes work fairly well. The Act Two setting, with the removal of some draping, are better. The set has several levels, offering a variety of playing areas and, thus, the obvious defining of who's in control of the scene at any particular moment. Bob Eisele's lighting complements the set; Bob Taylor's sound complements the script.
