The Hollow - Everyman, Cheltenham (From Tewkesbury Admag)

The Hollow - Everyman, Cheltenham

"WELL, Inspector, now we have all the evidence, there is only one possible conclusion... it's all a load of tosh."

"Indeed it is, Sergeant, but it's successful tosh and the people love it. Case concluded."

The enduring popularity of Agatha Christie's plays remains a mystery to me. The books, fine, the TV series, impeccable, but the plays are just awful, the stilted dialogue and improbable plots laid bare by the stark reality of live theatre.

That said, if old Aggie is your bag, then this is for you. The production is superb in every department, and all the actors deserve top marks for dragging the best out of Christie's wooden dialogue, although the fabulous Kate O'Mara steals the show as batty Lady Angketell, and at times creates the illusion that the script is half-decent.

The plot (surprise surprise) involves a murder at a country house, at a time when half the cast had some reason to be carrying a gun, and no-one knew where anyone else was.

The play runs until Saturday. Box office: 01242 572573.

Review by STEVE EVANS.