Watch In Suspense When ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ Opens Oct. 27
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Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express cast includes Raymond Wallace, Keirin Minter, Arin Bell, Teanna Williams, Kasey Rowland, Jessica Persons, Susan Harris, Bryan Altstatt, Jeff Persons, Susan Carolan, and Kionti Small. Not pictured: Jonathan R. Hoover. The murder-mystery production is slated for performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 27-29, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, at ASC’s Adam B. Robinson Jr. Black Box Theater at ART WORKS on Main, 627 S. Main St.
Stage Adaptation of Mystery Novel Features Christie’s Mustached Detective Poirot
Jeff Persons (from left), Susan Collins and Bryan Altstatt rehearse a scene from Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express on Oct. 11, 2022, in the Adam B. Robinson Jr. Black Box Theater.
There’s been a murder aboard a luxury passenger train — and it may prove to be the most difficult case yet for detective Hercule Poirot.
Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express is the latest theatrical production at The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas (ASC). The adaptation of one of the mystery writer’s most famous stories is slated for performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 27-29, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, at ASC’s Adam B. Robinson Jr. Black Box Theater at ART WORKS on Main, 627 S. Main St. (UPDATE: All four performances are now sold out.)
The production is sponsored by Simmons Bank.
It’s 1934 and Hercule Poirot (Bryan Altstatt) is called back from Istanbul to London on urgent business. He intends to book a first-class compartment on the Orient Express, and finds that it is run by his former friend and colleague, Monsieur Bouc (Jonathan R. Hoover). While aboard the train, Poirot meets a host of peculiar characters: the impatient Princess Dragomiroff (Kionti Small); the princess’ odd, Swedish companion, Greta Ohlsson (Susan Carolan); a Hungarian beauty, Countess Andrenyi (Jessica Persons); an outspoken and flamboyant American from the Midwest, Helen Hubbard (Susan Harris); a disagreeable American businessman, Samuel Ratchett (Kasey Rowland); the tightly wound Hector MacQueen (Keiren Minter); an English governess, Mary Debenham (Teanna Williams); the handsome Col. Arbuthnot (Rowland), and the train’s conductor, Michel (Jeff Persons).
As a snowdrift halts the Orient Express in its tracks in Yugoslavia, one of the passengers is found stabbed multiple times. Poirot is tasked by Monsieur Bouc to solve the murder, as the killer could still be in their midst. Conflicting clues and convoluted alibis lead Poirot to dead ends. With only 48 hours, will Poirot be able to solve the case of the Murder on the Orient Express?
Martin Carty — who has been involved in more than 30 shows at ASC — directs. His previous show was the 2021 murder-mystery-comedy “You Have the Right to Remain Dead” — which he directed and appeared in.
“This is a ‘whodunit’ and it’s a good story,” Carty said. “If you’ve never read the book or seen the movies, you’re going to be guessing until the end about how this took place and who did it.”
Murder is filled not only with plot twists but also laughs.
Hector MacQueen (Keiren Minter, right) finds English governess Mary Debenham (Teanna Williams) and American businessman Samuel Ratchett (Kasey Rowland) in an interesting predicament in Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express.
“It’s called a dramatic comedy,” Carty said. “I never thought of [the story] as a comedy, but there’s some really funny stuff in there. Susan Harris is going to bring down the house. She is going to bring down the house. She and Jonathan Hoover, they’ve got some really good lines.”
The intimacy of the black box theater and the proximity of the audience to the action is another great aspect of the show, Carty explained. “The seats are down on the floor and the actors are just right there. They’re not three feet away from you. It’s like you’re immersed in the story along with everyone else.”
Bryan Altstatt of North Little Rock steps in as the mustachioed detective from Belgium. (And for those wondering – his Poirot' ‘stache is fake.) This is his first lead role, but he’s no newcomer to ASC.
His first show at ASC was in 2000 in “Macbeth” (which was, coincidentally, adapted and directed by Carty).
This is Altstatt’s first live on-stage role at ASC since 2008, when he played Mr. Smee in Peter Pan. (He appeared as Mr. Green in ASC’s virtual production Clue: At-Home Version in 2020.)
A native of Pine Bluff, Altstatt is a White Hall High School graduate. (He also attended Dollarway schools for several years.) He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in theater at the University of Central Arkansas, and recently joined the Red Octopus Theater Co. sketch comedy group in Little Rock.
The cast and crew also include Raymond Wallace, Arin Bell, Kaleigh Persons, Zay Branch, April Hernandez, Kayla Earnest, Rory Lake, Lindsey Collins, Jayson Miller, and Matthew Howard.
Detective Hercule Poirot (Bryan Altstatt, right) meets Countess Andrenyi (Jessica Persons) in Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. The actors rehearsed a scene from The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas’s latest theatrical production on Oct. 11, 2022.
Tracy Sutherland – another longtime ASC theater volunteer – is the assistant director. Pam Holcomb is the costume coordinator, and award-winning artist Crystal Jennings painted the set backgrounds.
Ken Ludwig adapted “The Murder on the Orient Express” book for the stage; the script was commissioned by the Agatha Christie estate.
Tickets are $13 for ASC members and seniors; $18 for nonmembers; and $10 for students. A limited number of “First Class” tickets are also available for $20 per ticket. Those seats, with tables, are located on the catwalk for a balcony view of the performance. “First Class” ticketholders can also have their food and drinks brought to them so they can avoid the concession lines.
Tickets may be purchased online here or by calling 870-536-3375.
Audience members are encouraged to dress in costume, and there will be a costume contest at each performance, with the winners each taking home a gift basket of ASC goodies.
Speaking of costumes, Carty already has his planned.
“I am going to dress up like Poirot,” he said. “I've got my mustache going; it's coming on. About three more weeks, it'll be where it needs to be.”
For more information about this show or ASC’s theater program, contact ASC Theater Programs Manager Lindsey Collins at lcollins@asc701.org or 870-536-3375.
