I LOVE a whodunnit.

Whodoesn't?

Usually those bumped off aren't that keen, but audiences are.

The matinee performance of Agatha Christie's A Murder Is Announced I saw at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton on Wednesday proved it.

Sadly, the leading actress playing Miss Marple, Judy Cornwell, had to pull out of the performance due to illness.

The much-loved 75 year old star of stage and screen (whose many roles include Daisy in hit BBC comedy Keeping Up Appearances along with Shakespearean classics) sum up her versatility so it was no surprise when the audience sighed when they heard the news over the pre -show tannoy.

Her place was bravely taken by stalwart actress Cara Chase.

The 12 strong cast from Middle Ground Theatre Company carried on and the audience loved it.

Agatha Christie was the queen of the mystery genre.

She was also the princess of plotting, too.

To her the secret in a whodunnit was multi-levelled.

Why did they do it? Where did they do it and when did they hatch a plan to do it?

She invited readers and theatregoers to be detectives with her.

Miss Marple was one of her many great creations and she has been played by some of the stage and screen's biggest stars.

The cast here are faces we can recognise from many television hits who play out the drama superbly on a slick set.

Agatha Christie adaptations, like this one by Leslie Darbon, suit the Pavilion stage.

So what's the plot?

Someone has announced in a local paper, as well read as the Wirral Globe, that a murder will take place on a certain day at a certain time.

The action, which is more like interplay, takes place in two drawing rooms in an early Victorian house in Chipping Cleghorn in October 1950.

Way before Angela Lansbury, Agatha inspired Murder She Wrote.

Michael Lunney's faultless touring production direction guides you through a mystery maze.

Diane Fletcher as Letitia Blacklock joined Tom Butcher's Inspector Craddock.

They have great chemistry but this is an ensemble piece.

It's here till Halloween.

There are plenty of tricks in the plot.

And it's a real treat.

A magical mystery 8/10.

The show is at the Floral Pavilion until Saturday.

Tickets are from the box office on 0151 666 0000.