Ken Ludwig adaptation runs Feb. 27 through March 29 under direction of Connie Mockenhaupt
One of the most celebrated mysteries ever written is set to unfold on stage in Historic Folsom as Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” arrives at Sutter Street Theatre later this month, bringing with it nearly a century of literary legacy and suspense.
The production, adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig and directed by Connie Mockenhaupt, opens Feb. 27 and runs through March 29 at Sutter Street Theatre, 717 Sutter St.
Mockenhaupt directs the ensemble through the tightly woven mystery, using the intimate stage setting to intensify the suspense aboard the stalled train.
First published in 1934, “Murder on the Orient Express” remains one of Agatha Christie’s most enduring works and a defining installment in her Hercule Poirot series. Christie, often referred to as the “Queen of Mystery,” authored more than 60 detective novels and became one of the best-selling writers in history. Hercule Poirot — the meticulous Belgian detective known for his precision and logic — became one of fiction’s most recognizable sleuths.
Set aboard the luxurious Orient Express during the golden age of rail travel, the story begins just after midnight when a snowdrift halts the train in its tracks. Though it is an unusual time of year for heavy travel, the train is surprisingly full. By morning, however, it carries one fewer passenger.
An American tycoon is discovered dead in his compartment, stabbed eight times, with the door locked from the inside. With the train stranded and a killer believed to be among the passengers, Poirot must unravel a web of secrets before the murderer has a chance to strike again. The confined setting and layered characters have helped make the mystery one of Christie’s most celebrated works, inspiring multiple film, television and stage adaptations over the decades.
The stage production is rated PG and includes references to kidnapping and murder, along with gunshot sound effects.
Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 4:30 p.m. Sundays from Feb. 27 through March 29. Reservations are available at www.SutterStreetTheatre.com or by calling (916) 353-1001.
With Ludwig’s adaptation and Mockenhaupt’s direction guiding the journey, “Murder on the Orient Express” offers Folsom audiences the opportunity to experience a timeless Agatha Christie classic live on stage in Historic Folsom.
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