The cast of MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan
Cleverly staged, Lucy Bailey’s new touring production of MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS offers a thrilling and sumptuous evening of mystery and intrigue.
After directing productions of WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION and AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, Lucy Bailey goes for the Agatha Christie hat trick with a new touring production of MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS.
Set in Winter 1934, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS follows Christie’s beloved Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, who is recruited to solve a case when a murder occurs on the luxurious Orient Express train. An avalanche of heavy snow stops the train in Yugoslavia, and the murdered corpse of an American tycoon is discovered in his cabin. Can the world’s most famous detective crack the case before the train reaches its final destination?
Gripping, tense, and masterfully cryptic, Lucy Bailey directs with slick assuredness, keeping the action rolling at a decent pace. American playwright Ken Ludwig successfully retains the heart of Christie’s original with well-placed injections of humour and a few new twists to keep the audience engrossed and guessing until the grand finale.
The cast of MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan
The novel is not often staged, likely due to the challenge of depicting a moving train, but Mike Britton’s ingenious set design solves this problem. His innovative train design rotates and opens to reveal the different compartments and the action within, maintaining the claustrophobic feeling of the tight space. The production is further enhanced by Ian William Galloway’s video design, Oliver Fenwick’s lighting, and Sarah Holland’s costumes, which all contribute to the atmosphere onboard.
As the celebrated Belgian sleuth, Michael Maloney has big shoes to fill, following TV’s David Suchet and film’s Kenneth Branagh, both famous for playing the role. Yet, Maloney makes the character his own. His interpretation is contained and methodical, but with a more likeable, expressive edge, focusing on the comedy of Poirot’s egotism and dandyism.
Bob Barrett is a delight as the bouncy train manager Monsieur Bouc, bringing comedy to the piece, while Christine Kavanagh as the boisterous American Helen Hubbard keeps things lively, and Debbie Chazen impresses as Princess Dragomiroff. In fact, there isn’t a weak performer in the ensemble. Even Simon Cotton, who plays victim Samuel Ratchett in a brief appearance, conveys the utter unpleasantness of the character.
The cast of MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan
Loyal Agatha Christie fans may notice that the number of characters has been reduced from twelve to eight, but this doesn’t detract from the performance. Bailey makes excellent use of the tight space, particularly in the final 40 minutes, as Poirot prowls and pounces among the suspects, with everyone on stage.
This brand-new production of MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS is a deliciously thrilling ride and a sumptuous evening of intrigue and glamour.
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS runs at The Lowry, Salford until 14 September 2024
Donna is the Founder and Editor of Frankly, My Dear UK. By day, she works as a digital marketing specialist, by night she reviews film, theatre and music for a wide range of publications including WhatsonStage and The Reviews Hub. Loves Formula 1, prosecco and life.
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