The Real Agatha Christie - A Daughter's a Daughter
Agatha Christie fearlessly and dramatically confronts the inbuilt tensions and underlying love and hatred that is at the root of this close relationship between mother and daughter
Adapted by Malcolm McKay from the novel by Agatha Christie
Ann Prentice ….. Nancy Carroll
Dame Laura Whitstable ….. Sylvestra Le Touzel
Sarah Prentice ….. Natalie Mitson
Richard Cauldfield ….. Tom Goodman-Hill
Gerry Lloyd ….. Tom Glenister
Lawrence Steene ….. Taheen Modak
Directed and Produced by Catherine Bailey
In her autobiography Agatha Christie refers several times to her regret that she has never been regarded as a serious novelist. Perhaps to rectify this she wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott; one of which is A Daughter’s A Daughter. The books, now published under the Agatha Christie name, are generally regarded by many as her finest work and show a very different side of her talent.
Attractive widow, Ann Prentice, lives a quiet life with her vivacious and lively daughter, Sarah. While her daughter is away, Ann decides to marry Richard Cauldfield, a reliable but uninspiring businessman. On her return Sarah takes violently against Richard and begins a campaign to get rid of him. Resentment and jealousy corrode the relationship between the two women.
Finally, Anne reluctantly terminates her engagement and she and her daughter attempt to resume the close relationship they once had. But neither is happy. Both begin to seek solace in alcohol and shallow relationships.
All this is overseen by Laura Whitstable, an old friend of Anne’s. She questions both mother and daughter to see if they can discover what they truly want from their lives. Finally, the two women confront their darkest desires and previous actions. In an extraordinary scene they realise how much jealousy and revenge has coloured their relationship. After a series of painfully honest and powerful admissions they achieve peace.