Agatha Christie - Murder On The Orient Express

Agatha Christie's books have thrilled millions worldwide and surpassed over a billion copies. She is known as the Queen of Crime and is considered the most widely published author; she has written 66 crime novels. As part of a series that features Death of the Nile, Murder on the Orient Express is widely considered her most well-known novel. This incredible crime mystery adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig is now being featured at the Drury Lane Theatre.  

The beginning of the play starts like film production, highlighting the main storyline of little Daisy Armstrong by kidnapper and murderer John Cassetti. But, through the help of corruption, Cassetti serves no time, infuriating a host of people who want to find a way for them to pay for his crime. The transition into the Orient Express, where ten people are brought together during this luxurious train's journey interrupted by a snowdrift, was a delightful transformation that set up this murder mystery. 

This is where the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot provides a synopsis of the Murder on the Orient Express. Coming off solving a crime, Poirot is on vacation and runs into his friend Monsieur Bouc, the nephew of the owner of the Orient Express. Poirot needs to travel to London; however, the Orient Express is surprisingly full for this time of year. With no spaces available, Bouc gives up his cabin for his friend. As the Orient Express begins to travel, word spreads on the train that a mysterious conductor committed a sinister murder against an Import/Export dealer named Samuel Ratchett. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, Bouc pleads with Poirot to identify and solve the murderer before the Argentine police arrive.  

Written at the request of the Agatha Christie Estate, Ludwig's version of Murder on the Orient Express premiered at the McCarter Theatre on March 14, 2017, and had mixed reviews. Ludwig, who has won several Awards, including Tony's and the Edgar Award for Best Mystery of the Year, wrote  Dear Jack, Dear Louise, which won the Charles MacArthur Award for Best New Play of the Year. 

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The Scenic Design has to be perfect, and that's no easy feat in the magnificent tale of Murder on the Orient Express. However, to bring the great puzzle-maker Agatha Christies well-constructed murder mystery to life, Andrew Boyce effortlessly pulled out all of the bells and whistles to transport us back in time to 1934. For two hours aboard the timeless glamour of the Orient Express, which served Murder as the main dish, we learn of eight people who brilliantly concoct a murder. His vision was spectacular for this whodunit play with a flare of elegance, where each opulent carriage helped navigate the clues to the puzzle.

In the nostalgic opening scene, you feel you are attending a black-and-white movie production. The film is set to tell the infamous story of the kidnapping and murder of Daisy Armstrong. The infant daughter of wealthy British Army Colonel Hamish Armstrong and his American wife, Sonia. More significant than the stage itself, Andrew's rendition of one of the most famous and glamourous luxury sleeper-car trains is manifested right before your eyes in Istanbul, where the mystery begins. The duality of the exquisite dining car to the sleeping quarters was set to perfection as the main backdrop of the immeasurable mystery unfolds. The train set on a moving stage featured lighting within the train's windows that displayed the highlights of snow, a silhouette of the actual train, and the snow drift that eventually knocked parts of the train off its railing.   

Drury Lane filled their production with star-studded theater greats like Larry Yando, Janet Ulrich Brooks, Sean Blake, and Keith Kupferer. Yando, known in Chicago for his infamous role as Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, provides his usually grand performance. Ulrich, who could teach a masterclass in capturing the essence of the character, shined in her role as overly talkative and opinionated Helen Hubbard and Sean Blake is dazzling as Monsieur Bouc. The cast also included Ulrich's sister-in-law, Peggy Roeder, as Princess Dragomiroff — I loved the banter during the scenes where Ulrich and Roeder come together. Rounding out the cast is Karmann Bajuyo, Sam Boeck, Avelyn Choi, Sarah Lo, and Leah Morrow and making their debut in Drury Lane is Diane Coates and Ryan Imhoff.  

Directed by Jessica Fisch and the core production team of the three Desantis (Kyle, Drew, and Abigail) and the two Van Lente's (Jason and Tom), the Murder on the Orient Express's sinister core is tailored more to over embellishment of humor and accents. I am not saying that this method didn't work. Drury Lane does a good job setting up the premise. The humor and mystery, combined with the exceptional cast and impressive scenic design, made this production top-notch. But there will be a few Agatha Christie purists who prefer the more crime-solving mystery, focusing on the actual murder committed. Still, this production brilliantly added humor to the devastating results felt by the Armstrong family through the eight characters involved in the murder.

Drury's Murder on the Orient Express losses the seriousness and complexity Christie created, and the stereotyping of other countries could be construed negatively by audiences; that withstanding, Murder on the Orient Express is a spectacular night of theater. 

Let's Play Theatrical Review Highly Recommends Murder on the Orient Express at Drury Lane Theatre. 

Drury Lane Theater

Murder on the Orient Express

Written by Agatha Christie

Directed by Jessica Fisch

August 31 - October 23