The Hart Players have hit on a winning formula with choosing a lesser-known Agatha Christie play as their shows have been selling out. It is a short piece, coming in at around 30 minutes, which is 10 minutes shorter than the published time, which works well in a market where people may be rushing off to another show. The Players are clearly enthusiastic about the piece and enjoying performing as an amateur company: it is to their credit that they have made a good choice for a production. It is not easy to sell out shows at the Fringe, but this team have.
In terms of the execution of the show, there needs to be some work on strengthening the tension on stage. Christie was great at building up to the final reveal in her thrillers, so this is an area that the Players should look at working more on for their next Fringe foray. This will come with more focus on honing their acting skills and allowing themselves to fully believe what their characters are doing. There are some good ideas in the direction, although an awareness of sightlines is always a consideration for the Fringe. The love for the play and bringing it to audiences was clear: the next step will be to work at more believability so that the full tension of Christie’s work can be more clearly to the fore.
Show Time: 12-17 Aug @ 16::40
theSpace on the Mile
Ticket Prices: £12 (£10)
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/agatha-christie-s-the-rats
Accessible entry: Information not supplied. Wheelchair access type: Platform Lift. Stairs: 6 – 10. Wheelchair Accessible Toilets. Captioning. Audio Described. Age: 8+ (Guideline), Scenes of violence; Babes in arms policy: Babies do not require a ticket. Policy applies to: Children under 18 months.