You can create all the bold, innovative modern theatre you like, but there’s something reassuringly alluring about the murder mystery queen Agatha Christie’s whodunnits… and The Mirror Crack’d, on at Kingston’s Rose this week, ticks all the boxes.

With its clever digs at Britain’s social class inequality, and its portrayal of a slow-witted PC Plod detective being outwitted by just about everyone, this new adaptation by Rachel Wagstaff, performed by the Original Theatre company, stars Susie Blake (above) as Miss Marple and Sophie Ward as the troubled screen siren Marina Gregg.

The first-night audience lapped it up and loved it. Such a shame that it’s only having the briefest of runs. It closes on Saturday. Late seats: rosetheatre.org

Veronica Roberts, David Partridge and Jules Melvin in The Mirror Crack’d. All pics: Ali Wright

A downside is that the revolving set necessitates a huge slab of extra raised stage, spoiling sightlines for rows A to D of the stalls and prompting nimble work by staff on Tuesday’s opening night to relocate audience members to more elevated positions.

Your humble critic managed to enjoy the show from row D, but had to spend the entire evening unsure whether anyone in the cast actually possessed feet.

Set in post-war England, this touring show (directed by Phillip Franks) highlights class issues such as the aristocracy being on its uppers trying to maintain stately piles, while lowly folk in the new housing estates are forced to use buses, shop at supermarkets and – horror of horrors – live in places like Croydon.

Film star Marina Gregg (Sophie Ward) faces Chief Inspector Craddock (Oliver Boot)

Secrets are revealed, bodies pile up and by the interval the Rose bar is abuzz with speculation about the culprits and the innocent.

It’s rattling good fun. As ever, Agatha Christie outwits us all. Miss Blake’s portrayal of the dear old amateur sleuth is spot-on, while there are other strong performances by Veronica Roberts as busybody neighbour Dolly Bantry, Jules Melvin as Heather Leigh and Mara Allen as Cherry Baker. Indeed all the female roles are outstandingly filled.

The bad news is that if you miss it at the Rose, its next stop on an epic round-Britain tour is Aberdeen. The good news is, there are still a few tickets left for evenings and matinees in Kingston.