Spider’s Web has all the makings of a classic Agatha Christie. A body in the drawing room. A diplomat’s wife with a flair for dramatic storytelling. A suspiciously charming detective with a keen eye. But what truly caught me off guard about Pymble Players’ production was just how funny it was.
This isn’t just a whodunnit – it is a romp. The audience buzzes with laughter as the plot thickens and unwinds with delightful chaos. Part farce, part mystery, and wholly entertaining, Georgia Drewe’s direction leans into the play’s comic heart without ever losing its sense of intrigue.
First staged on London’s West End in 1954, Spider’s Web is Christie’s second-longest-running play, second only to her iconic The Mousetrap. While Spider’s Web has fewer revivals than some of Christie’s more famous titles, its blend of murder and mischief makes it a hidden gem. It’s a play that never takes itself too seriously. Where even the murder is more of a catalyst for comedy than dread.
The plot is wonderfully absurd: Clarissa Hailsham-Brown, played with sparkling wit by Chloe Callow, the imaginative wife of a foreign diplomat, finds herself in real trouble when a body turns up in her living room. She recruits her houseguests to help hide the corpse before her husband, played by Justin Corcoran, arrives home with an important political guest. Naturally, things spiral.
Enter the dryly suspicious Inspector Lorde, played by Murray Fane, who seems both bemused and mildly delighted by the swirling chaos. Red herrings fly, secrets surface, and the tangled web of clues tightens. But at the centre of it all is Clarissa, equal parts charming and chaotic.
From the opening moments, it’s clear that this production has its tone just right. Drewe’s direction brings out both the farcical comedy and the emotional beats that make the relationships feel lived-in. The cast are clearly having a ball, their chemistry infectious.
Chloe Callow carries the play with a natural comic rhythm and an expressive physicality that lights up the stage. She spins her tales, both tall and small, with a trickle of truth that makes her all the more captivating.
Justin Corcoran’s double-duty as Henry Hailsham-Brown and Constable Jones is handled with precision and some tongue-in-cheek references between his alter-egos. Diane Howden as the gardener maid Mildred Peak adds a marvellous, mischievous foil to the madness.
Murray Fane’s Inspector Lorde is a standout: dry, understated, and quietly magnetic. His scenes crackle with tension and humour, often at the same time. The cast, as an ensemble, plays the stakes truthfully while letting the absurdity bloom.
Patrick Gallagher’s set design is stylish, clever, and convincingly antique. It feels as though the entire production has been lifted straight from the 1950s, not just in the performances and direction, but most strikingly in the set itself. The space evokes a posh English country home with just the right amount of detail to suggest both wealth and well-kept secrets.
Jacqui Dielwart’s costume designs help define each character beautifully. In particular, Clarissa’s blue dress, handmade by Dimitra Callow, feels period-appropriate while suggesting a flair for the theatrical. Dean Bennett’s props work subtly throughout, adding authenticity without ever distracting.
It’s also worth noting the loving attention to atmosphere. While there’s no flashy sound or lighting wizardry here, the design supports the action with precision, never overshadowing the performances. As the director states, the bonds between the characters are the beating heart of this play. It’s that warmth that elevates this production beyond mere puzzle-solving. You care about these people, even as they drag corpses around the house and spin ever more ridiculous lies.
Spider’s Web is, at its core, a light-hearted mystery that prioritises fun over fear, charm over chills. It is a wickedly witty night of murder, mayhem, and marvellous performances. This is one web well worth getting caught in.
Spider’s Web by Pymble Players runs to 12 July at the Zenith Theatre, corner Mcintosh Street & Railway Street, Chatswood NSW 2067.
Tickets are available here!
Website: https://pymbleplayers.com.au/spiders-web
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/pymbleplayers/
Photo credits: Daniel Ferris
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5 responses to “Review: Spider’s Web Brings Murder Mayhem And Marvellous Performances”
Six friends saw this show yesterday. At dinner, we agreed that of the 30 years we have been attending Pymble Players, this is the best scripted and acted show we have ever seen. The season should be extended and (despite the atrocious parking exit disappointment and delay) the Zenith Theatre was entirely appropriate to mount this wonderful experience – brilliant set and professional costuming.
This is so pleasing to hear! This was my first time to this theatre or with this company and I absolutely adored it, I’m glad I caught one of their best 🙂 (I also had the shock at the carpark, that was not so nice 🙁 I’m glad you liked the show!
Thanks Benjamin – I am writing separately to management about the parking fiasco. Not only did we wait 30 mins to exit, missing our dinner booking, but, having booked and already paid earlier for parking, we had to pay another $23.60 as it was after 7pm. Extraordinary and left a bad taste after a great show.
Not your problem but just recording this somewhere!
I saw this play on Saturday. I thought it was well acted and directed. It was in the same class as The Sydney Theatre Co.pany Productions.
Well done
What a generous commendation! I’d love to see what STC would do with the play, but until then, we can gush over this production all the more 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed the show!