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‘Murder on the Orient Express’ opens Friday at Actors Guild

Popular theatre production slated to premiere this week

The final scene of Act 1 in “Murder on the Orient Express,” which opens 8 p.m. Friday at the Actors Guild of Parkersburg, when the players bust into the berth to find the wounded Mary Debenham lying on the floor. From left, Michel the conductor played by Sean Shoop, Helen Hubbard played by Lori Clark, Hercule Poirot played by Joe Reeves, Col. Arbuthnot played by Jay Raber, Mary Debenham played by Jaliyah Townsend, Princess Dragomiroff played by Rachel Martin, Hector MacQueen played by Danny Bayer, Greta Ohlsson played by Megan Newbanks and Countess Andreyni played by Vanessa Rake. Shows are 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Sept. 30, Oct. 1, Oct. 7, and Oct. 8 and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 2 and tickets are available at www.actors-guild.com. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

PARKERSBURG — Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” will open the 2022-23 season of the Actors Guild of Parkersburg at 8 p.m. Friday at the guild playhouse on Market Street.

The play takes place aboard the Orient Express, a luxury passenger train traveling from Istanbul to Western Europe before it is stopped in its tracks by a murder.

The train is filled with suspects, each with a motive and an alibi. It’s the perfect mystery for Agatha Christie’s detective Hercule Poirot as his vacation is interrupted and he battles the clock to solve the whodunit.

Shows are 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Sept. 30, Oct. 1, Oct. 7, and Oct. 8 and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 2. Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for students and seniors. Tickets are available on the Guild website at www.actors-guild.com.

“I love Agatha Christie’s writings and how she approaches storylines and plots. Because so many are fans of her books, our audience members are always excited to see her work on stage,” Director Dixie Showalter said. “I know people have seen the movie and read the book, but transferring this wonderful murder mystery to the stage brings the plot and characters up front and personal to our audience.”

Hercule Poirot, portrayed by Joe Reeves, examines evidence found where Samuel Ratchett, an American of dubious character, played by Bob Holland, was stabbed in the Actors Guild of Parkerburg production of “Murder on the Orient Express,” among the most famed stories by Agatha Christie. From left, Monsieur Bouc played by Josh Martin, Poirot, Ratchett and Princess Dragomiroff, played by Rachel Martin. The show opens at 8 p.m. Friday. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

Cast and staff members have worked hard to present the story in the time period it was written, the 1930s, Showalter said.

“Fortunately, we’ve had tremendous help from costume designer Nancy Bloomer as she provided period costumes to add to the characters. Shauri Morrison and Mollie Bleakley have been teaching the cast to apply 1930s makeup and hairstyles,” Showalter said.

Cast member and dialect coach Bob Holland has worked with the actors to enhance character authenticity.

Making her stage debut is Rachel Martin.

“I am very much a behind-the-scenes type of person, so this is a big step outside of my comfort zone. I have enjoyed many parts of the show, but my favorite is watching everyone develop their characters over time,” Martin said. “I adore playing Princess Dragomiroff because she has great interactions with the other characters and she is very sarcastic. I relate to her in many ways. What gal doesn’t want to be a princess?”

From left, Monsieur Bouc played by Josh Martin gets his marching orders from Helen Hubbard played by Lori Clark in “Murder on the Orient Express,” the Agatha Christie classic opening 8 p.m. Friday at the Actors Guild of Parkersburg. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

The play will begin in a completely dark theater, Showalter said.

“For the safety of our patrons, those that are not seated at the beginning of the show will not be allowed entrance to the auditorium until the end of the first scene,” she said. “The house manager will provide warnings prior to the beginning of the show and will assist those arriving immediately afterward with getting to their seats after the first scene.”

Special effects at the beginning of the show include darkness, loud train sounds, steam from a fog machine and lights. Patrons need to be in their seats by 7:50 p.m. so the show can start at 8, she said.

“If folks arrive late, and after we start the show, they will have to wait in the lobby until the first scene is over,” Showalter said.

“Murder on the Orient Express” is sponsored by United Anesthesia.

From left, love interests Mary Debenham, played by Jaliyah Townsend, and Col. Arbuthnot, played by Jay Raber, in a scene from “Murder on the Orient Express” opening 8 p.m. Friday at the Actors Guild of Parkersburg. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

The cast is: Hercule Poirot, Joe Reeves; Monsieur Bouc, Josh Martin; Mary Debenham, Jaliyah Townsend; Hector MacQueen, Danny Bayer; Michel the conductor-head waiter, Sean Shoop Princess Dragomiroff, Rachel Martin; Greta Ohlsson, Megan Newbanks; Countess Andreyni, Vanessa Rake; Helen Hubbard, Lori Clark; Col. Arbuthnot, Jay Raber; Samuel Ratchett, Bob Holland.

Production Staff: Dixie Showalter, director; John Gradwohl, interim technical director; Pam Piggott and Nicole Raber, assistant directors; Gracie Parks, stage manager; Nancy Bloomer, costumer; Nora Corra, production assistant; Dave Roberts, sound designer; Patrick Arnold, sound operator; Sabrina Dye, lighting designer; Bob Holland, dialect coach; Charlie Matthews, adviser.

From left, Hercule Poirot played by Joe Reeves is smitten by Princess Dragomiroff played by Rachel Martin while Monsieur Bouc played by Josh Martin looks in wonder in the Actors Guild of Parkersburg production of “Murder on the Orient Express.” The show opens at 8 p.m. Friday. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

Hercule Poirot played by Joe Reeves, right, questions Hector MacQueen played by Danny Bayer in a murder investigation aboard the Orient Express. “Murder on the Orient Express” opens 8 p.m. Friday at the Actors Guild of Parkersburg. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

From left, Monsieur Bouc played by Josh Martin meets his old friend Hercule Poirot played by Joe Reeves in a scene from “Murder on the Orient Express,” the latest production by the Actors Guild of Parkersburg. The show opens 8 p.m. Friday and tickets are available for other performances at www.actors-guild.com. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

From left, Greta Ohlsson played by Megan Newbanks and Countess Andreyni played by Vanessa Rake in a scene from “Murder on the Orient Express.” The show opens 8 p.m. Friday and will be presented 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, Oct. 1, Oct. 7, and Oct. 8 and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 2. Tickets are available at www.actors-guild.com. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

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