Mount Vernon is inviting you to witness Hercule Poirot solve a mystery aboard a train when “Murder on the Orient Express” pulls out of the station Saturday, Nov. 4 and Sunday, Nov. 5. The Saturday show begins at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., with tickets available in advance or at the door for $10 admission.
“It’s an Agatha Christie murder mystery play,” said director Tom Stephens. “I especially like that this involves an ensemble cast for the show.”
Stephens said that one of the things many of the actors have had to work on with this piece is the fact that each of their characters have accents, and different accents at that.
“We had work with Kim Benesh on how one develops an international character and accent work early on in the show,” Stephens said. “It’s been a challenge, but also it’s been fun to see our students working on this as well.”
Natalie Thuerauf plays Countess Andrenyi in the production.
“She’s a very intelligent character,” Thuerauf said. “She uses some very measured word choices in what she says.”
Thuerauf also said she has learned a lot about developing a character in this production, especially before they even get to blocking the show.
“Especially how it would look like for a more mature character to move about,” Thuerauf said.
Cyrus Johnson plays Michel the Conductor in the show.
“For me, the most fun and biggest challenge has been learning and keeping a French accent,” Johnson said.
Johnson said they have a great cast with a lot of chemistry that really helps that ensemble work together.
Bella Hasley plays Princess Dragomiroff in the production.
“For me, the challenge has been trying to reflect someone who isn’t my age has been harder to do,” Hasley said.
One of the other challenges – the character’s speaking cadence is definitely slower than Hasley’s speaking as well.
“I have to constantly remind myself to deliver my lines slower, which is also a challenge when speaking with an accent,” Hasley said.
“It is going to be a great show,” Stephens said. “A very enjoyable evening at the theater.”
“It’s a hard to figure out mystery if you’ve never seen the mystery before,” Hasley said.
“We have a lot of cool set design and techniques happening there to bring this show to life,” Johnson said. “We’ve got a great cast that have put in a lot of work.”
“It’s going to provide great entertainment on Halloween weekend,” Thuerauf said.
Hercule Poirot – Luke Stephens
Monsieur Bouc Aiden Campbell
Mary Ebenham – Ingrid Morf
Hector MacQueen – Emma Hoffman
Michel the Conductor – Cyrus Johnson
Princess Dragomiroff – Bella Hasley
Greta Ohlsson – Penelope Vig
Countess Andrenyi – Natalie Thuerauf
Helen Hubbard – Selah Loyd
Colonel Arbuthnot – Emmett Jordan
Samuel Ratchett – Chester Rood
Head waiter – Lyn Bauer
AD/SM – Allie Teague
Cast for “Murder on the Orient Express” Hercule Poirot – Luke Stephens Monsieur Bouc Aiden Campbell Mary Ebenham – Ingrid Morf Hector MacQueen – Emma Hoffman Michel the Conductor – Cyrus Johnson Princess Dragomiroff – Bella Hasley Greta Ohlsson – Penelope Vig Countess Andrenyi – Natalie Thuerauf Helen Hubbard – Selah Loyd Colonel Arbuthnot – Emmett Jordan Samuel Ratchett – Chester Rood Head waiter – Lyn Bauer AD/SM – Allie Teague

Gallery • 2 Photos

--Submitted photo

Murder on Orient Express 2