Review: Audiences get entangled in Repertory Company Theatre's SPIDER'S WEB

Spider's Web

Directed by Debra Carter
Produced by Repertory Company Theatre

I’ve always been a fan of Agatha Christie – novels, movies, and plays – but I’ll admit that I don’t always recall whodunnit when it’s something I’ve read or seen before. Such was the case with Spider’s Web, which I haven’t seen in about 20 years. Oh, I remembered little things, but not enough to correctly predict who the murderer was. I personally think this was a good thing, as it made for an enjoyable evening of my trying to figure it all out.

Clarissa Hailsham-Brown is a mischievous young woman who loves to make up stories and play tricks, and those around her adore her. Played by Megan Liles, Clarissa is cute and campy, with many asides to the audience. Her husband Henry, played with stoic dignity by Nicholas Tischer, works for the foreign office and is expecting an important guest later that night, but before he can bring him to the house for their secret meeting, Clarissa is greeted by an unwelcome visitor: Oliver Costello, played by Josh Hepola. Oliver is now married to Henry’s ex-wife, and he’s threatening to take their daughter Pippa away from them. The always-hungry Pippa is played by Bailey Alley, who has no desire to live with her mother again, threatening to kill Oliver. Oliver isn’t exactly a likeable chap and does, indeed, end up dead, leaving Clarissa and her uncle Sir Rowland Delahaye and friends Hugo Birch and Jeremy Warrender to try to hide the body before Henry returns. Jordan Tomenga has a firm grasp of his character as a father-figure and protector to the flighty Clarissa and takes charge as best he can (as the storyline rapidly changes). As Birch and Warrender, Nelson Wilson and Jacob Waters help move the plot along while ably avoiding the questions put to them by Inspector Lord, humorously portrayed by Heath Bromley and his sidekick Constable Jones, played by Grant Palmore, who magically show up due to a mysterious phone call saying that a man has been murdered at the house. It wouldn’t be an Agatha Christie play without sufficient red herrings thrown into the mix, and those are handily provided by the talented pair of Sherry Etzel and Jared Duncan as Mildred Peake and the butler Elgin, who also provide additional humor and campiness to the proceedings.

Debra Carter has assembled a fun ensemble cast who work well together. A director wearing many hats (as we often do in the theatre), she also designed the period costumes and the beautiful drawing room set, aided by set dressing by Loree Westbrooks. Carter also has added a layer of silliness not usually seen in an Agatha Christie play by having her actors carry out broad takes and asides to the audience, which the patrons on opening night thoroughly enjoyed.

Spider’s Web is perfect for those fans of the whodunnit storyline! Go see Repertory Company Theatre’s production and see if you can figure it out.

There’s NOTHING like live theatre!

Carol M. Rice

Audience Rating: G

Running Time: about 3 hours with intermission

Accessible Seating: Available

Hearing Devices: Not Available 

Sensory-friendly Showing: Not Available 

ASL Showing: Not Available 

Production Sound Level: Comfortable