Agatha Christie was, of course, a remarkable creator of mysteries. Her writings could also be very funny, and she produced some work of a quite surprising nature (her two musical radio plays written for the BBC come to mind). She was also a remarkable observer of her times. Throughout her writings she gives us a very clear depiction of, and sometimes very pithy comments on, British society. Her works are very much like the village of St. Mary Meade, the home of Miss Marple, where if you looked you could find examples of all the passions and frailties of a much larger world.

In Black Coffee she gives us a look at society recovering from World War I. Every person in the play, and they are persons not just characters, has been shaped by that experience. In the play she gives us, for the one time in her stage writing, Hercule Poirot. (Why he never appears again is a story for another time.)

Although this was her first mystery to appear on the stage Ms. Christie just got it all correct. Real people. Real Mystery. Real Motives. As you piece the puzzle together, just remember, things are not always as they seem.

Tredwell

Debbie Samek

Lucia Amory (Richard's wife)

Shirley Panek

Miss Caroline Amory (Sir Claude's sister)

Joan MacDonnell

Richard Amory (his son)

Michael Gilmore

Barbara Amory (his niece)

Tricia Elise Cramer

Edward Raynor (his secretary)

Greg Coale

Dr. Corelli

Larry Champion

Sir Claude Amory

Mike Dunlop

Hercule Poirot

D. L. Sams

Captain Arthur Hastings, O.B.E.

Robert Sams

Dr. Graham

John Malloy

Inspector Japp

Stephen Fitzgerald

Constable Johnson

Myron L. Cramer