A wet Wednesday practically cries out for a good whodunit and Belmont Theatre’s production of Agatha Christie’s The Hollow last night did not disappoint.

The action follows the antics of the somewhat genteel Angketell family – Sir Henry and his wife Lady Lucy, plus cousins Edward, Henrietta and Midge.

In the opening scene the family reminisce about Lucy’s childhood home Ainswick, by all accounts a stately pile, which Edward has inherited. Lucy, now residing at The Hollow, has gathered the relatives together to push for a union between Henrietta and Edward and thus secure Ainswick for future generations of Angketells.

Unwittingly, she has also invited along the charismatic doctor John Cristow who appears to have a prior claim on Henrietta’s affections. When John’s old flame Veronica, a famous actress, turns up a shot is fired in anger and the plot is thoroughly thickened.

Peppered with eccentric characters and lively dialogue, the cast have a lot of meat to chew upon. Perhaps a little too much in fact, as some members were less than perfect at remembering their lines. Thankfully their acting talent rendered this only slightly irksome in an otherwise thoroughly gripping murder mystery.

However, a few judicious cuts to the rather wordy script might have saved some blushes, and scene changes could have been tightened up accordingly.

Michael Collins as Sir Henry and Bernard Vick as his pompous butler Gudgeon clearly had lots of fun with the comedic strengths of their parts. New to the group, Michelle Gough as Midge and Nick Baldock as Edward brought some interesting characterisations, while Mary-Anne Anaradoh is spirited as Veronica.

Saving the best for last, another newcomer to Belmont, Jane Willis was mesmerising as Lady Lucy, portraying both the sweet and slightly dotty sides of her nature with equal finesse. She sums up the play precisely - beguiling, surprising and utterly, utterly fun.

Melanie Dakin The Hollow is at The Pump House until Saturday, June 1. Details: 07917 324179