All IRT performances for the rest of the season have been cancelled.
The curled mustache and Belgian accent of Hercule Poirot take center stage in the Indiana Repertory Theatre’s production of Murder on the Orient Express playing now through March 29. This stage interpretation of the classic whodunit is a rich, satisfying experience for those who love Agatha Christie’s novel of loss and lies.
Hercule Poirot (Andrew May) embarks on the luxurious Orient Express in Istanbul on his way back to London to solve a case. Train manager and Poirot friend Monsieur Bouc (Gavin Lawrence) gets him a last-minute accommodation in First Class, where he encounters his fellow passengers, including the pushy and nasty American, Samuel Ratchett (Ryan Artzberger) and his assistant Hector McQueen (Aaron Kirby), Russian Princess Dragomiroff (Dale Hodges) and her religious companion Greta (Callie Johnson), Countess Andrenyi (Katie Bradley), Mary Debenham (Nastacia Guimont) and her secret lover Colonel Arbuthnot (also Ryan Artzberger), and the brash over-sexed former actress Helen Hubbard (Jennifer Joplin). The put-upon head waiter (Rob Johansen) is kept hopping by the demands of the passengers. Overnight, Ratchett is murdered in his compartment, the train stops due to heavy snow on the tracks, and Poirot finds himself recruited to find the guilty party. He realizes that the murdered man was actually a murderer, responsible for the death of the child Daisy Armstrong. There are twists and turns and uncomfortable revelations, plus fake clues to throw him off, but Poirot discovers the truth in the end.
Murder on the Orient Express is a classic for a reason. The audience has a certain amount of sympathy for a murderer of a murderer, which makes the final twist so satisfying. Christie’s books were full of sly humor and knowing winks, and this production takes full advantage of her storytelling. Poirot at the IRT is sharp and self-aware of his absurdity and he uses it to unsettle and disarm those he interviews.
Scenic designer Robert Koharchik deserves extra applause for an ingenious stage that rotates between scenes, and the use of the fore-stage for critical parts of the story. Risa Brainin’s direction brings out the best in a strong cast of actors who defy the cliche reading of classic characters.
Shows have been selling out, so it’s best to reserve tickets soon. Call 317-635-5252 or visit irtlive.com for more information.
