REVIEW: Sleuth at The Watermill

Anthony Shaffer's award winning play is currently running at The Watermill Theatre. Directed by Jessica Swale, Sleuth is widely regarded as one of the stage's great comic thrillers.

Richard Attlee is superbly funny as Andrew Wyke, the successful crime writer whose eccentricities border madness and who's grip on reality is becoming increasingly blurred with characters from a bygone era of fictional sleuthing.

On discovering that he is being cuckolded by the younger and altogether more modern Milo Tindle, Wyke schemes to engage the affable young man in an elaborately staged set of mind games worthy of any good detective novel. Convincing Milo to steal his wife's jewels it would seem that Wyke has the upper hand, however, once the wheels are set in motion the game takes twists and turns which leaves everyone unsure of where it is going to end!

If you like to try and work out whodunnit there are riddles to solve and speculations to make or if you prefer just sit back and allow yourself to be entertained by this thoroughly enjoyable romp through the world of crime fiction. 

High energy performances from a great cast make this a guaranteed fun night out.

Sleuth is showing at The Watermill Theatre near Newbury until Saturday 23 March.

Photo by Colin Willoughby