Murder On The Orient Express

Review by Paul Towers, 15/10/24

Murder on The Orient Express by Agatha Christie, adapted by Ken Ludwig

Directed by Lucy Bailey

Produced by Fiery Angel

At Curve til Saturday 19^th October 2024

I am sure most people will know Murder on The Orient Express from the many films and TV adaptations over the years. So the reason many people will go and see a new stage version is a combination of how the various characters are played and, just as importantly, how to stage a production that takes place almost entirely on board a train stuck in a snow drift.

This current touring production delivers in both areas. Headed up by Michael Maloney as the inimitable Hercule Poirot, the cast is a smorgasbord of easily identifiable international stereotypes.

Poirot, travelling from Istanbul to London courtesy of his friend Monsieur Bouc (Bob Barrett), director of Wagon Lit, the company that runs The Orient Express, is plunged into the middle of the extraordinary mix of international passengers in the sold out First Class carriage.

Loud mouthed and obnoxious American Sam Ratchet (Simon Cotton) seems to be upsetting everyone with his demands. Even the audience heaves a sigh of relief when, only a few minutes into the journey, he is found stabbed to death.

As he is onboard Poirot is co-opted by his friend Monsieur Bouc into investigating the crime in order to be able to hand over the miscreant to the police once the train has extricated itself from the snow drift.

So begins what happens in every Agatha Christie an analysis of every character present.

The witnesses are Countess Elena Andrenyi (Mila Carter), a very glamorous trained nurse; Princess Dragomiroff (Debbie Chazen), an imperious Russian in exile; Greta Ohlsson (Rebecca Charles) the Princess’ hysterical God-fearing maid; Helen Hubbard (Christine Kavanagh) another loud and irritating American; Hector MacQueen (Paul Keating) Ratchet’s secretary; Mary Debenham (Iniki Mariano) the secret beau of The Colonel (Rishi Rian). Serving the entire coach is Michel (Jean-Baptiste Fillon), the Train Conductor.

With the train stuck fast in a snow drift there are only a limited number of suspects for the murder so Poirot must use his ‘leetle grey cells’ to bring the culprit to justice.

Special mention has to go to the extraordinary set by Mike Britton who has managed to create a remarkable train that makes good use of Curve’s revolve so you get to see both sides of the train.

Murder on The Orient Express is at Curve until Saturday 19^th October and then it continues to tour.

Pics: Manuel Harlan

www.murderontheorientexpressplay.com

www.curveonline.co.uk

https://ptheatre.blogspot.com/