Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” was produced by the Liberty Lightning Theater from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2. Cast and crew members curated an immersive experience, leaving the audience in suspense as passengers of the Orient Express faced interrogations and accusations.
Played by Cullen Doyle, 12, Hercule Poirot, a detective, is left with no choice but to solve the murder of Samuel Ratchett, played by Venus Kerr, 10. Poirot finds a wide range of clues, which leads him to suspect multiple passengers and to dig for their alibis and potential motives.
The diverse variety of character personalities, from edgy secretary Hector MacQueen, played by Atticus Dutcher, aggressive Colonel Arbuthnot, played by Kerr, to witty Princess Dragomiroff, played by Maryiam Mohamed, 10, captivated the audience’s attention to detail through clever bickering and showcasing of character traits.
The expansive dynamic of the train’s passengers was also displayed through impressive execution of foreign accents, especially by Frey Kellogg’s, 12, Belgian Monsieur Bouc, Hungarian Countess Andreyani, played by Aryana Jalilian-Nosraty, 11, and Keyshawn Fletcher’s, 12, depiction of French Head Waiter, Conductor, and Radio Operator.
The student actors’ development of their characters enlivened the play, particularly Kyler Kellogg’s, 9, humorous portrayal of American Helen Hubbard through enthusiastic expression and attitude.
In contrast to Hubbard’s loud personality, Mary Debenham, played by Sylvia Woltman, 12, Greta Ohlsson, played by Tesla Scherrer, 10, and Michel the Conductor, played by Mya Ousley, 11, continued the mysterious identity of the murderer through quiet, yet unforgettable personas.
Talent ran beyond the stage in production. The Technical Crew’s visually pleasing set aided tremendously in story-building, from confrontations in the dining car to murder in the sleeping car. Scene changes were smooth and discreet, which importantly upheld the plot’s momentum.
Adding to the successful world-building were the distinct, chronologically accurate character appearances, thanks to the Costume, Makeup and Hair Directors, Managers and Crews, vital to the riveting setting of December 1934.
“Murder on the Orient Express” explored themes of revenge, suspicion and friendship as Poirot scrambled to solve the case. Emerging clues, alibis and motives kept audience members engaged, enthralled to discover who the murderer was.
Rather unexpectedly, Poirot reveals the murder was a collaborative effort by multiple passengers to avenge the death of a young girl, Daisy Armstrong, which explained the events that had recently unfolded.
Liberty’s “Murder on the Orient Express” exhibited a strong theme of unity as people from different nationalities and motives worked together to accomplish their common, although brutal, goal to claim revenge.
