REVIEW: Sleuth

Simon MacCorkindale, best known for his role as consultant Harry Harper in the BBC's Casualty and Michael Praed, veteran of television classics Robin of Sherwood and Dynasty held the audience captivated during a performance of Sleuth on Monday night.

The play ran for a total of 12 years in London and New York winning the Tony Award for Best Play and also inspiring the hugely successful film starring Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine.

MacCorkindale came striding out as the stronger actor and character for much of the first half. He played snobbish Andrew Wyke, the aristocratic author of Agatha Christie-style manor house mysteries.

Michael Praed started out rather more sheepishly as Milo Tindle, the upstart son of an Italian immigrant.

He arrives at the home of Wyke which sees the start of what begins as a playful game between rivals which soon turns sinister in this classic thriller.

Nothing is what it seems in this gripping play as power and manipulation is tossed from character to character.

It is a dark play but not without humour particularly when the fragile male ego dominates much of the plot, throw in some jealousy, conflict and manipulation and you have a brilliant combination.

This play will baffle even the most proficient sleuth!

Liza Laws

Sleuth - until Saturday June 14. Box Office 08700 606 650.