‘The world’s greatest thriller’ – Sleuth, Orchard Theatre, Dartford. 09.05.24

This was a new one for me. I like a good thriller, but Anthony Shaffer was a little before my time. Before tonight I’d never seen Sleuth – in the theatre or the 1972 film starring Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine – but when the Orchard Theatre (West) contacted us to say it was on, I was keen to go and form my own opinion of what has been dubbed ‘the world’s greatest thriller’.

I didn’t look up the plot before I went because I wanted to be surprised. The play’s bio gave nothing away:

A young man arrives at the impressive home of a famous mystery writer, only to be unwittingly drawn into a tangled web of intrigue and gamesmanship, where nothing is quite as it seems…

This dark psychological ‘thriller about thrillers’ makes for an intriguing study of human conflict, jealousy, and manipulation. Proving to be far more than a ‘whodunnit’, it promises to baffle even the most proficient sleuth!

And baffled I was. I thought my love of murder mysteries and true crime would stand me in good stead for this, but I was unprepared. There are so many twists and turns that you just don’t see coming. I’ll try not to give the game away for those who haven’t seen it, but there might be a few spoilers coming!

This is really a two-man show; Todd Boyce as eccentric mystery writer Andrew Wyke, and Neil McDermott as the young Milo Tindle, who turns out to be the lover of Andrew Wyke’s wife (I did think I’d misheard Boyce when he said, ‘So, I hear you want to marry my wife?’).

I was hugely impressed with Boyce’s portrayal of Wyke. The sheer number of lines he has memorised for the role is incredible; at points he’s reeling off a seemingly non-stop monologue. He really brought the character to life with his impressions and mannerisms, bringing the audience into the warped mind of Andrew Wyke. You have to be alert to keep up with the dialogue in this one.

Act One doesn’t really do Neil McDermott justice. His character appears one-dimensional; a dim-witted opportunist tricked into a nonsense burglary plot that allows Wyke to exact his revenge.

I didn’t predict where the play was going in Act Two, but it gave McDermott the opportunity to shine, with his character turning the tables on Wyke with an equally deceptive game.

Although there are three other cast members listed in the programme, we never saw them on stage. I assume they provide the voices of the police officers, which could easily be mistaken for impressions by Milo.

The set never changes throughout the two Acts, remaining in the old and slightly creepy country residence of Andrew Wyke. Watch out for the laughing sailor which is sure to send the odd shiver down your spine. If you don’t like clowns, here’s your warning to be on guard for a particularly disturbing mask…

Is Sleuth the world’s greatest thriller? For me personally, I would say no. It certainly keeps you guessing, and the direction of travel wasn’t what I expected at all, but I think perhaps I was expecting something more suspenseful and fast-paced.

Is it worth seeing? For Todd Boyce’s performance alone, it is definitely worth seeing. Both stars deliver compelling performances, delivering lengthy and witty dialogue with apparent ease. It’s really something to behold. It certainly kept my interest throughout.

Sleuth is playing at Orchard West until Saturday 11th May, so if you want to catch it you better grab your tickets fast here.