Vera Claythorne (Kira Lace Hawkins), Mrs. Owen’s new secretary and a former governess is checking to see how many soldiers are left. Agatha Christie’s “Then There Were None” is on stage at the Wagon Wheel Theatre. Ten guests are being killed one by one and as someone dies a soldier disappears. Will she be next?
Agatha Christie’s “Then There Were None” is currently on stage at Warsaw’s Wagon Wheel Theatre. Members of the company gives it their all in this murder mystery as members of the audience try to figure out who is killing everyone.
Ten strangers are invited to a home on Soldier Island off the coast of Devon, England. Each of the guests was involved in the death of another person but all have escaped the legal system.
On the table in the home’s living room is a poem about 10 soldiers. Also on the table are small statues of British soldiers. One by one the deaths of the guests parallel the poem and one by one the soldiers disappear.
As each is killed, distrust grows between those who are left. One of them is the killer.
First to arrive are Philip Lombard (Matthew Janisse), a former mercenary soldier, he’s both bold and cunning and carries a gun; and Vera Claythorne (Kira Lace Hawkins), Mrs. Owen’s new secretary and a former governess. The rest come in one or two at a time only to learn their host and hostess, the Owens, will be delayed. Both Janisse and Hawkins are extraordinarily talented and it shows as they make their way toward the show’s conclusion.
First to be killed is Anthony Martson (Jeremy Seiner), rich and arrogant, he enjoys driving fast cars. Seiner is terrific as Martson. The young man’s personality shows as Seiner faces his fellow guests.
Next to be killed is Mrs. Rogers (Jennifer Dow), the butler’s nervous wife. Dow turns in her usual excellent performance as she worries about taking care of all the guests.
Third on the list was General MacKenzie (Dan Smith), the oldest of those on the island. He’s guilt-ridden about his past crime and keeps remembering his late wife. Smith is very good as the man the others called “grandpa.”
I’ll not tell you the order of the rest of the guests were killed. That would give away who the killer is. Others at the mansion were:
Emily Brent (Kristin Yasenchak), a Bible-fanatic who thinks she’s better than the others because of her faith. She adds humor to the mystery until she meets her demise. At one point she told Vera her dress was to tight. She often quoted Bible verses and condemned the men for drinking.
Dr. Armstrong (Scott Fuss), a timid doctor who is gullible. He won’t touch the liquor but at one time was an alcoholic. Fuss makes the perfect doctor.
Judge Lawrence Wargrave (Mike Yocum), an intelligent retired judge who becomes the leader of the group. Like Dow, he doesn’t disappoint the audience and handles the judge’s character with ease.
William Blore (Javier Ferreira), a former police inspector, argues often with Lombard and is first-rate as a guy with a secret of his own.
Rogers (Kyle Timson), the butler. Timson is a polished actor and it shows.
Likewise, Fred Narracott (Lucas Thomas) is the guy from the mainland who brings passengers and supplies to the island. He is only in the first part of the production but turns in a great performance. His boat can’t return to the island, much to the dismay of the guest, because of a bad storm that hit the area after they arrive. The lights go out. Candles are used and mistrust is felt. Who is the murderer?
Then there were two. No. Only one. No there are three … you have to see this production to understand what happened. I’m not telling.
“Then There Were None” continues through Aug. 9. For tickets call (574) 267-8041 or online at wagonwheeltheatre.org.
