by Agatha Christie
20th – 22nd February 1962
On the morning that he and his downtrodden wife, Gerda, are due to travel down to the country to weekend with friends, John Christow allows his little daughter to tell his fortune with cards. When the death card is drawn, he pays no attention, but the appearance of an old flame at The Hollow seems to be the final link in a chain of fatal circumstances.
The Cast
Henrietta Angkatell: Marion Wellstead
Sir Henry Angkatell: Frank Meakins
Lady Angkatell: Margaret Pilkington
Midge Harvey: Beryl Braidley
Gudgeon: Peter Palfrey
Edward Angkatell: Peter Monger
Doris: Ann Curran
Gerda Cristow: Katherine Bailey
John Cristow: Mike Yates
Veronica Craye: Susan Meakins
Inspector Thomas: Tom Stephens
Constable Penny: David Bungard
Produced by Frank Meakins
Newbury Weekly News review
Compton Players Murder Mystery
Compton Players showed enough dramatic ability to keep their audiences in suspense right up to the revealing last moments, when they staged Agatha Christie’s The Hollow last week. The “whodunit” poses the question “who killed John Cristow?” suspicion pointing to his quiet timid wife, hie mistress and Veronica Craye, the glamorous film star of his past.
Margaret Pilkington as Lady Angkatell, delighted the audience with her performances. There was sympathy for her husband, admirably played by F Meakins. Michael Yates, as Dr Cristow, could have displayed a slightly stronger character but generally speaking the different personalities were well cast, from Marion Wellstead as Henrietta, and Peter Monger as Edward to Tome Stephens as the Inspector, and Ann Curran as the maid. Other parts were played by Beryl Braidley, Katherine Baily, Susan Meakins, Peter Palfrey and David Bungard. A polished performance from all made an excellent production.