By Alan Jones and Katie Carson
It has been 90 years since Agatha Christie published the ever-popular Murder on The Orient Express, and it seems fitting that it was chosen for Sock ‘n’ Buskin’s 80th season production. Adapted several times for the screen and recently adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig, the murder mystery remains a staple of the genre, and for good reason. Part of its appeal lies in its large cast of eclectic characters, and bottle episode format.
Directed by Lindsey Keene, Murder on the Orient Express tells the story of famed detective, Hercule Poirot, as he returns from his vacation on the Orient Express—the Istanbul to Calais express train. After the train gets stuck in the snow and the eponymous murder occurs, Poirot, here played masterfully by Donovan Martin, agrees to solve the crime through his meticulous detective techniques. However, as he interviews each of the suspects, he realizes this caper is not as cut and dry as he believed.
The cast of Murder on the Orient Express. Photo by Zane Labonté-Hagar.
Sock ‘n’ Buskin’s production features an ensemble cast, the highlight of which, for this author, was Dawson Fleming, who does double duty as both Colonel Arbuthnot and Samuel Ratchett. Fleming offered a heartfelt performance as the protective Colonel and in truly unsettling moments as the boorish Ratchett, he also made for a convincing corpse.
The entire cast manages to shine, filling their roles with enough character to differentiate themselves, and with an ambitious use of accents that stayed relatively consistent throughout the play.
(L-R): Donovan Martin as Hurcule Poirot and Dawson Fleming as Colonel Arbuthnot. Photo by Zane Labonté-Hagar.
Dynamic lighting, sound design, and interesting staging choices meant that I was never bored, and several stylistic choices worked well in this stage adaptation which cleverly added to the whodunnit story.
For a student theatre production I was genuinely impressed at the talent and skill on display, although Christie’s ending rings hollow 90 years on, as the dispossessed still yearn for justice, and their pleas fall on the deaf ears of the establishment.
The cast of Murder on the Orient Express. Photo by Zane Labonté-Hagar.
Nevertheless, Sock ‘n’ Buskin once again has pulled off a crowd-pleasing performance, and if Christie’s book lasts another ninety years, than surely Sock ‘n’ Buskin deserves another 80 seasons.
Sock ‘n’ Buskin’s production of Murder on the Orient Express played at the Kailash Mital Theatre from March 22–24.
