The Mirror Crack’d ★★★★ The Mill at Sonning | Sep 4 - Oct 31, 2026

The Mill at Sonning is a theatre that knows its audience, and this latest offering should appeal to the usual suspects. Agatha Christie’s well-plotted mysteries have a comfortable, timeless quality, built around a reassuring formula with which we are all familiar: there is a cunning murder, a colourful line-up of suspects and a clever detective who will inevitably outsmart the police. This time, it is Miss Marple, Christie’s insightful elderly spinster, who finds herself drawn into the world of a glamorous film star and her entourage, one of whom may be intent on murder. When local luminary Heather Leigh is poisoned after drinking a daiquiri at a party, the question is whether the drink was really intended for leading lady Marina Gregg. As the delightful Miss Marple assists Chief Inspector Dermot Craddock in unravelling the mystery, the audience is invited to puzzle it out along with her. We are on familiar ground here and will be neither shocked nor disturbed by what follows. Indeed, the appeal of Christie’s mysteries lies precisely in this combination of murder and reassurance. It is perhaps no coincidence that poison features so prominently in her work. During WWI, Christie trained as a pharmaceutical dispenser and worked in a hospital pharmacy, acquiring the specialist knowledge that helped make her poisonings so convincing. Her murders are rarely grisly affairs; instead, the emphasis is on plotting, deduction and the gradual unravelling of the mystery. In The Mirror Crack'd, Lisa Goddard makes an excellent Miss Marple, holding her own in a long line of actors who have played the role, from Margaret Rutherford to Joan Hickson. Indeed, one of the most effective and affective scenes comes when Miss Marple shares reminiscences with her old friend Dolly Bantry, who is beautifully played by Annie Wensak. The warmth of their exchange provides a welcome counterpoint to the surrounding intrigue. There is one curious directorial choice. Jonathan O’Boyle places two chairs on the forestage which the actors occupy with their backs to the audience. While this creates an unusual stage picture, it also feels unnecessarily distancing. Such concerns aside, the perfect accompaniment to this entertaining production is the meal created by Executive Chef Sean LeRoux, with both the selection and quality being impressive. The Mill at Sonning knows its audience and knows how to provide a memorable occasion: a classic Christie mystery accompanied by an excellent meal makes for an unforgettably enjoyable theatrical treat.

Rated: ★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.

Photo by Pamela Raith

When, Where, Getting there:

• Sep 4 - Oct 31, 2026
• Wed - Sat: 8:15 pm. Restaurant open and serving dinner from 6 pm - 7:15 pm
• Sat & Sun (from Sep 13): 2:15 pm. Restaurant open and serving lunch from 12 pm - 1:15 pm
• Show-only matinees: Sep 17, Oct 1, Oct 15: 2:15 pm
• The Mill at Sonning
• Nearest station: Reading
• https://millatsonning.com/Events/the-mirror-crackd/