James Earl Adair Website

Barry Kirk talks with Janes Earl Adair about his lead role in Sleuth.

The Man who played an out-of-this-world mad professor has returned to earth with a bump.

James Earl Adair was last seen at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch, as Prospero in The Return To The Forbidden Planet, but he is swapping his wig for a smoking jacket and a glass of port in his role in Sleuth.

"Totally different peice of theatre," he said. "We had loads of fun with Planet. It toured around the country and I think it should have gone on for much longer. It's one of those plays that works by word of mouth.

"The number of times we opened on a monday night to a small house, with the mobile phones going into overdrive in the interval but by the time Friday arrived, there was not a ticket left."

James started as a singer in the late 1960's forming Earl and Dean with Roger Dean. "It was a bit like the Tin Pan Alley sort of story, discovered by an agent and offered a recording contract.

"We only recorded one record, but people kept mixing us up with the film advertisers, Pearl and Dean, though that was not the reason why we stopped singing. I was more of a band singer and Roger went in a different direction." he says.

The lure of the theatre, was never far away, soon expanded into work at the Liverpool Playhouse progressing into London's West End with No Sex Please, We're British, at the Strand, Fame the Musical atthe Prince of Wales and the Hobbit at the Queen's Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue. He also took the title roles in the touring versions of Joseph and the amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Jesus Christ Superstar.

He says: "Sleuth is a fascinating play and the main character is a very deep part. There are so many layers to it which keep the audience on their toes."

The story of an aging mystery writer, slowly sinking into a bottle of vintage port is turned onto its head when he discovers a young travel agent is to marry his estranged wife.

The young man is invited to the writer's house, which is when the audience ets out the pen and paper to jot down the clues.

The play has run to more than 2,300 performances in the West End and was a successful film starring Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine.

"I think people are going to enjoy this," says James: "It's what you would call a damn good thriller, but with loads of humour."

Sleuth is at The Queen's Theatre from Friday October 3 until Saturday October 25 with tickets from �8 to �15 still available from the Box Office on 01708 443333.

The Romford Recorder

With thanks to Mary for emailing this in