A Conscious Parody of a Detective Thriller with a Unique Blend of Suspense and Humor
By Anne Reid
Clarissa Hailsham-Brown, the charming and quick-witted wife of a British diplomat, enjoys weaving elaborate tales of adventure and intrigue to entertain dinner guests. Her lively imagination makes her the life of any social gathering, and she is quite adept at spinning stories that leave her audiences captivated. But when a real-life murder shockingly occurs in the very heart of her own drawing room, Clarissa's talent for fiction proves to be no match for the unfolding reality.
The victim, a man with mysterious ties, is discovered just as her husband, Henry, is expected home, accompanied by an important foreign politician. Fearing the scandal and chaos that could arise from such a discovery, especially with such a high-profile guest about to arrive, Clarissa panics. Desperate to avoid disaster, she quickly ropes in her dinner guests, who are as varied as they are bumbling, to help her conceal the body.
What follows is a comical attempt to dispose of the evidence and keep the grisly scene under wraps. Their efforts are constantly thwarted by a series of unexpected interruptions and the escalating absurdity of the situation. Just when it seems the worst is over, they are confronted with the unexpected arrival of the wry and insightful Inspector Lord. A seasoned detective with a sharp mind and a dry sense of humor, Inspector Lord’s presence adds a new layer of tension and hilarity to the already chaotic scene.
As Clarissa and her companions scramble to maintain their composure and outwit the detective, the situation spirals into a madcap farce, full of misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and razor-sharp wit. Clarissa's once-formidable storytelling skills must now be used to navigate the increasingly intricate web of lies they’ve spun, all while Inspector Lord slowly but surely closes in on the truth.
Equal parts tension and laughter, Spider’s Web offers a complex plot involving murder, police investigations, drug addiction, invisible ink, hidden doorways, and secret compartments. “I love Agatha Christie, and ‘Spider’s Web’ just isn’t performed nearly as often as it should be,” said Director Jim Katapodis. “This particular murder mystery stands out because of its many comedic moments, which I really enjoy.”
“We’ve got an amazing cast,” Katapodis added, expressing pride in the actors' work. The casting process was a rewarding experience, with over 70 actors auditioning. Some were familiar faces at the theatre, others came through Backstage, and several had previously auditioned at the Orange County Theatre Guild (OCTG) auditions earlier this year. “I reached out to a few people from those all-theatre auditions and cast several of them in this production,” he said.
Bob Nydegger, President of the Board at Westminster Community Playhouse (WCP), described Spider's Web as “a fun romp through Agatha Christie’s brilliant mind.” He explained, “The twist in this mystery is that the main character is a diplomat’s wife who’s creative in telling stories about her adventures. But when a real murder takes place in her own home, she finds that dealing with reality is far more difficult. The way she ropes the other characters into helping her solve the mystery is absolutely hilarious.”
Nydegger, who has known Katapodis for about 10 years, praised him as a good friend and a fun director to work with. “We chose this play because WCP has a tradition of performing at least one murder mystery every season, and Agatha Christie is always a popular choice.”
As is typical of Christie’s work, this play seamlessly blends comedy, drama, and mystery, keeping the audience guessing until the very end. Actors generally love performing in her murder mysteries, even though Spider’s Web is less well-known than some of her more famous works.
WCP’s thrust stage, which extends into the audience on three sides, creates an intimate and immersive experience for theatregoers. “Every seat is a great seat because the stage is so close,” said Katapodis. “You can practically reach out and touch the actors — though, please don’t!” He teased that the set and costumes will be from the early 1960s, but hinted at some hidden surprises in the design.
Actor JD Rinde, who plays Henry, Clarissa’s diplomat husband and also serves as board treasurer and producer of the play, encourages everyone to come see the show. “It’s a really fun production and a perfect way to spend an evening!”
Katapodis also acknowledged the contributions of Roxy Payne, an actor and model who served as the dialect coach for the British and Irish accents, and Assistant Director Kati Regan-Moore, who helped with set and costume design. For those attending, street parking is available, along with disabled parking behind the theatre. The play runs three weekends in November from the 8th to the 24th.
Anne Reid is a writer, public & community relations expert, and theatre mom (full disclosure: her son Jack Reid plays Jeremy in “Spider’s Web” at the WCP.)
“Spider’s Web”
Westminster Community Playhouse
7272 Maple Street, Westminster, CA
November 8 - 24, 2024
(714) 893-8626, www.wcpstage.com