03/11/2009
David Suchet and Zoe Wanamaker reunite in Halloween Party
Award winning actress Zoe Wanamaker (My Family, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone) makes a welcome return, alongside David Suchet, as Mrs Ariadne Oliver, in the new film adaptation of the Poirot mystery The Halloween Party. Zoe made her first appearance as Mrs Ariadne Oliver in the Agatha Christie film adaptation, Cards On The Table in 2005 and in 2008 appeared in Mrs McGinty’s Dead and The 3rd Girl.
Adapted by actor, screenwriter and novelist, Mark Gatiss (Doctor Who, The League of Gentlemen, Crooked House), The Halloween Party, also stars Ameila Bullmore (Bellamy’s People, Ashes to Ashes), Deborah Findlay (Gunrush, Silent Witness), Georgia King (Little Dorrit, St. Trinian’s: The Legend of Fritton’s Gold), Julian Rhind-Tutt (Green Wing, Oliver Twist), Sophie Thompson (A Room With A View, EastEnders), Paul Thornley (Mutual Friends, Love Soup), Eric Sykes (The Goon Show), Fenella Woolgar (Doctor Who, Jekyll) and Timothy West (Bleak House, A Room With A View).
When Mrs Ariadne Oliver (Zoe Wanamaker) attends a children's Hallowe'en party in Woodleigh Common with her friend Judith (Amelia Bullmore), a young girl Joyce Reynolds (Macy Nyman) boasts of having witnessed a murder years before. Joyce's story is heard by all the party, including her strange brother Leopold, the impeccable hostess Rowena Drake (Deborah Findlay), her bookish son Edmund (Ian Hallard) and the local Reverend Cottrell (Timothy West). Mrs Whittaker (Fenella Woolgar), the church organist, and Frances Drake (Georgia King), Rowena's feisty daughter, are dismissive of her story but later that evening Joyce is found dead having been drowned in an apple-bobbing bucket in the library. It appears that any one of the guests could have slipped out in the dark during a game of Snapdragon and drowned her.
At the request of his friend, Ariadne, Hercule Poirot (David Suchet) arrives at Woodleigh Common to investigate the murder. Though local Inspector Raglan (Paul Thornley) dismisses Joyce's claim and even her step-mother Mrs Reynolds (Sophie Thompson) admits her daughter was a liar, Poirot is convinced Joyce's story has some truth to it. When he seeks out the local gossip, charwoman Mrs Goodbody (Paola Dionisotti), Poirot discovers that there have been a number of suspicious deaths in the village in recent years which Joyce could have witnessed: a drowned school teacher, a stabbed solicitor's clerk and the passing of a rich old lady. Mrs Goodbody is convinced that old curses still haunt the village, as is the affable gardener, Michael Garfield (Julian Rhind-Tutt).
But while Poirot pieces together the facts, another child is found drowned in the river. Could a forged codicil, a missing au pair and a secret love affair be the key to solving the crime? Perhaps the former solicitor of Mrs Llewelyn-Smythe (Phyllida Law), Mr Fullerton (Eric Sykes), holds the key to the mystery, but can Poirot act in time to save Judith's ethereal daughter Miranda (Mary Higgins) when he realises she is in danger?
The Halloween Party is currently being filmed on location in Oxford. It is directed by Charles Palmer and the producer is Karen Thrussell (Agatha Christie’s Marple).
The Poirot films are co-produced by ITV Studios and Agatha Christie Ltd, a Chorion company, and US network WGBH. Mammoth Screen’s Michele Buck and Damien Timmer executive produce Poirot on behalf of ITV Studios. Rebecca Eaton is executive producer for WGBH, with David Suchet as associate producer. ITV Global holds international distribution rights.
Note to editors: Three new Poirot films; Appointment with Death, The Clocks, and Three Act Tragedy have already been filmed. For up to date scheduling information please refer to the ITV press centre website: www.itv.com/presscentre
Please advise Natasha Bayford if you would like to secure interviews with the cast.
PRESS CONTACT: natasha.bayford@itv.com
PICTURE CONTACT: patrick.smith@itv.com
