The Granite Theatre’s production of The Hollow is a classic case of who done it…It’s the 1950s, in Sir Henry Angkatell’s luxurious mansion outside of London, on a Friday afternoon in September. Sir Henry, the feisty Lady Angkatell and Henry’s cousin Henrietta are expecting a weekend of house guests, among them Dr. John Cristow, a married man and respected doctor, who, seemingly has little patience for his patients or much of a commitment to his wife. Cristow is a bit of a womanizer, as evidenced by his recent affair with Henrietta.
Cristow even has the gall to bring his wife to the Angkatell’s home for the weekend, so he’s now got both his wife and his mistress under the same roof. Even he is surprised to learn that one of his past lovers, the famed actress Veronica Craye, is staying in a home in the very same neighborhood, while in town for one of her glamorous film roles.
As more guests pour into the home, we may lose track of where all this are going as conversations, humor and wit take center stage, so to speak, for a while, but as the first act comes to a close, things are brought into focus Saturday morning, when Dr. Cristow is suddenly shot. Of course, we, as the audience, don’t know who was the shooter, but as Cristow passes into death, his usually naive wife is the first one on the scene, and, in her shock and haste she picks up the very pistol that appears to be the weapon of choice. This action, of course, muddles the evidence, and soon all the major – and minor – players are suspects in a classic case of “whodunnit?” Even the self-righteous Butler is a possibility.
Inspector Colquhoun, C.I.D., and Detective Sergeant Penny are the assigned investigators and they guide us as all the possible murderers are reviewed as suspects. No spoilers here but suffice to say that the ride Agatha Christie’s writing and Granite Theater’s cast and crew provides is well worth the journey; the set is exquisite and charming performances from the whole ensemble make this a September show to remember.
