On Mar. 5, North Forsyth High School Theater opened Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express.” The show featured a mystery with a distinct cast of characters. At some point, every character becomes a suspect in a sudden and shocking murder.
The play was performed on Mar. 5, 6, and 7, with each show beginning at 7 p.m. There is also an earlier performance on Saturday, Mar. 7, at 2 p.m.
“Murder on the Orient Express” is a classic 1934 mystery novel written by Agatha Christie. This follows detective Hercule Poirot, who must solve a murder mystery set on the Orient Express, a luxurious long-distance train which was in service from 1883 to 2009.
The play has been adapted from the “Murder on the Orient Express” screenplay written by Ken Ludwig, a highly acclaimed American playwright, author, screenwriter, and director. The first production of the play was performed in 2017 in the McCarter Theater Department in Princeton, N.J.
The play starts out with one of the passengers, Samuel Ratchett, receiving anonymous letters with threats; however, Detective Poirot initially declines the offer to take the job in investigating the letters. Nonetheless, he has no choice but to investigate the case because Ratchett is soon found brutally murdered and found on his bed inside his train cabin. Unfortunately for the passengers, there is a detective aboard who suspects every one of them.
Winter Bearden, a sophomore who is a part of the Orient cast where she plays Helen Hubbard, describes her favorite part of the play as “seeing how the audience reacts to who the murderer actually is.” When asked about her favorite part of theater, she described it as being recognized for the element in which she and her fellow cast and crew members put in the time and effort.
Furthermore, the play can be described as an incredible mystery, with a plot-twist where watchers will find themselves conflicted as to how their morals determine how they perceive justice.
When buying tickets, students or adults can choose whether they would prefer to buy tickets online or in person. For online purchases, tickets can be found on the Nofo Stage website, where they cost $15 for adults and $10 for students; the prices remain the same as in person.
The theater department looks forward to how viewers will react to who the real murderer is in the upcoming performances!
