Review: Black Coffee - Newcastle Theatre Royal

Jason Durr stars in Black Coffee

  When someone turns around to you and asks you if you have seen Agatha Christie's Poirot on the TV, if you know what they are talking about, chances are you will picture David Suchet in the title role with the signature moustache. If you are really familiar with the character, perhaps you have seen the likes of Albert Finney in the role as well. When reading the books you may see someone different again (or you may just picture Suchet again). In short, many people have played Poirot in adaptations for TV, Radio and even onstage.

 I got given the oppurtunity to see Black Coffee in Newcastle at the Theatre Royal, and I didn't pass it up. But I was a little bit nervous about going... It's true that I find it hard to take to someone else playing Poirot, having seen many of the ITV adaptations with Mr Suchet on countless occasions, so when I found out I was seeing someone different playing Poirot, you can understand how I must have been feeling. It's rather silly of me, but I was worried I would never adjust to Jason Durr's take on the Belgian detective. But I soon discovered there was nothing to worry about.

Black Coffee is the first play Agatha Christie wrote for the stage. She began to write the piece in 1929, and it was initially produced one year later. The play is set in the library of Sir Claude Amory's house, approximately 25 miles outside of London. Sir Claude takes a sip of his evening coffee and, during a blackout, suddenly dies in his chair. Long before he even took his coffee, he summoned Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings to his house to try to discover who is responsible for the theft of a formula he has kept locked in a safe. Of course Poirot and Hastings arrive too late and Poirot's 'little grey cells' get to work to help unravel the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the formula and Amory's death.

I won't give anything else away because it needs to be experienced to be understood. What I will say though is the Jason Durr captures the essence needed to pull off the Belgian detective, with a mixture of both seriousness and humour, bringing the character to life on the stage and you soon learn to forget David Suchet entirely as you watch him. Coupled with Captain Hastings, the chemistry between the two characters is absolutely fantastic, and both actors pull off the roles to the highest of standards. Inspector Japp was also portrayed quite comically, but he was only seen in the third act of the piece. In the short space of time however, he fast became one of my favourite characters of the play as a whole.


The cast of Black Coffee

The stage is set by an array of talents playing an assortment of interesting characters, all of whom are suspects in the case. The highlights however for me were Hastings, Poirot and Japp, creating a brilliant comedic trio.

If you have the chance to see Black Coffee whilst it tours the UK, I highly recommend it. You will be mesmerised by an unforgettable whodunnit, and it may even leave you with a desire to avoid coffee at all costs. It'll be safe as long as it doesn't leave you with a bitter taste in the mouth...