Lincoln, Neb.--The Nebraska Repertory Theatre presents Agatha Christie’s classic mystery, “Murder on the Orient Express,” adapted by Ken Ludwig, Nov. 13-23 in Howell Theatre.
"Murder on the Orient Express" is set aboard a luxurious train stranded by a snowstorm. The play follows the brilliant detective Hercule Poirot as he investigates the murder of a passenger, unraveling a web of secrets among an eccentric cast of suspects. Poirot is played by Equity actor Kurt Zischkle.
“’Murder on the Orient Express’ is one of Agatha Christie’s most iconic tales of espionage, deceit and intrigue,” said senior acting major Robbie Exstrom of Kearney, Nebraska. “As we follow one of the most iconic detectives in the literary canon, Hercule Poirot delves into the biggest case of his career and finds himself on the glamourous Orient Express. He navigates the mysterious cast of characters in this very elaborate game of hide and seek and ultimately finds himself solving the universal dilemma—truth or justice.”
Exstrom plays Monsieur Bouc.
“He is an old friend of Poirot and funs the Wagon-Lit, the greatest train company in the entire world, in the heart of Istanbul,” Exstrom said. “Monsieur Bouc is delightful. He loves his job so fiercely that he will do anything to protect it. He is also in a constant state of feast or famine, which is very fun to play. He is a dream to play because of how much joy he brings.”
Brenden Dodds, a sophomore acting major from Geneva, Illinois, plays Hector MacQueen.
“Hector is the secretary of the man who is murdered,” he said. “He is a very timid man by nature, although like many of these characters, there is more to him than what appears on the surface.”
Harper Allen, a junior acting major from Lincoln, Nebraska, plays Mary Debenham.
“Mary Debenham is a reserved and anxious yet deeply caring and powerful British woman,” she said. “She is so much fun to play, and I love exploring her moments of strength in the play.”
Allen said Ludwig’s adaptation is well done.
“He expertly weaves levity and moments of intense mystery together into a really enjoyable script,” she said. “Following the paper trail he leaves about the crime is like poetry, in seeing all the ways these lives blend together. Audiences should expect to have the night of their lives. The show is full of twists and turns, so you’ll want to be listening and watching every second.”
Diego DiPasquo, a junior acting major from Los Angeles, plays Michel the Conductor.
“Michel the Conductor is a very interesting character to play,” he said. “On the surface, he’s a welcoming, soft-spoken conductor and only talks when he needs to say something (which is rare in Ludwig’s adaptation of the play). But if you look a little deeper, you’ll see that there’s a lot that goes on in Michel’s mind, and although he keeps it to himself, it’s up to me, as the actor, to give the audience my thoughts without saying them.”
Jordan Gabrielson, a sophomore acting major from McAllen, Texas, plays Princess Dragomiroff.
“The princess is a 70-year-old Russian princess. She is very poised, snappy and graceful, but also has a soft spot every once in a while,” she said. “The princess is a very complex character who has been through some crazy things, making her the way that she is, and it is such a fun challenge to unravel all of that and portray it on stage.”
Gabrielson appreciates the depth of the characters in Ludwig’s adaptation.
“All of them are the main characters,” she said. “There is so much to unpack with every single one of them, and Ken does a really great job of portraying this story on a stage. Each character has so many humorous moments, but also so much depth to each of them, which is such a beautiful thing.”
DiPasquo said the production offers more to discover with every viewing.
“Audiences should look forward to a night of grand sights, only matched by the grander personalities,” he said. “Truly every character has their own unique charm that screams to be heard, and each an equally unique backstory. I really think that audiences can only experience the beauty of the show unless they watch it twice. Once you know the ending, there’s so much more you can pick out. We’ve carefully gone through this show to ensure there’s more enjoyment each time someone chooses to watch it."
Exstrom said audiences should expect a thrill-filled evening with twists and clues.
“You will absolutely adore all of the train goers and have a smashing time trying to figure out who the main suspects are,” he said. “This is also an absolutely beautiful production with stunning costumes and a gorgeous set, both made by the incomparable Bree Pierce and J.D. Madsen.”
Brendon Fox, who is artistic director at Peterborough Players, is guest directing the production. He is a director, teacher, adapter and producer who has worked nationally and internationally at a number of prominent regional theaters, universities and training programs, including Prague Shakespeare Company, The Juilliard School, Cleveland Playhouse, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, and more.
“He is a dream director,” Exstrom said. “For the first full week of rehearsals, we got to sit around the table and discuss everything that makes this play tick and find out what this show truly is. He encourages us to be bold and strong and to truly fight for our characters. He brings us to the top of our game.”
Gabrielson praised his collaborative spirit.
“Brendon Fox is absolutely brilliant. I think his ideas and vision for this show are breathtaking,” she said. “He really values our overall characters and the world of the play, emphasizing that we build it together as an ensemble, and there is such a special beauty to that.”
Dodds encouraged audiences to check out the play.
“This is a murder mystery that has continued to dazzle audiences for decades,” he said. “Everyone should experience this story at least once in their lives.”
Gabrielson said the production has something for everyone.
“This show is an all-around blast that truly has it all,” she said. “If you want to laugh, you should come. If you want to cry, you should come. If you want to put your detective skills to the test and try to solve a murder, you should come. This show is really entertainment at its finest, and there is never a dull moment. Come and see the show.”
The Howell Theatre is located on the first floor of the Temple Building at 12th and R streets on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln city campus. For showtimes and ticket information for “Murder on the Orient Express,” visit https://nebraskarep.org.
