Theatre TSC puts extra twist on classic Agatha Christie murder mystery

Earlier this week I was invited to sit in on Monday night’s dress rehearsal of Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” at Theatre TSC. As both a certified theater buff and an avid reader (Christie is unquestionably among my favorite authors), I jumped at the chance. Theatre TSC has a long history of quality productions, and this one was no different.

Agatha Christie’s masterpiece “And Then There Were None” was first published in 1939 and has delighted generations of readers ever since. It’s one of the best selling books of all time and has spawned countless adaptations, homages, and parodies.

One of the earliest adaptations came in 1943, when Christie adapted her novel for the stage, revising the ending for, as her grandson Mathew Prichard put it, “what was perceived to be the needs of audiences at a very dark time in history.”

On the 125th anniversary of Agatha Christie’s birth, Prichard and the Christie estate commissioned a second official ending of the play, essentially rewriting the last three pages of the script to adhere to the ending of the novel.

Today theaters performing “And Then There Were None” have the option of using whichever ending they prefer. And for the next two weekends, Theatre TSC, in one final twist in a show full of them, has opted to alternate endings, allowing audiences from different nights to compare and contrast their experience.

Upon entering Turner Auditorium one is met with a set that nicely fills the space, lending to a sense of epic that is often associated with the Queen of Crime. As many of Christie’s best works feature a location that feels like a character itself, be it the ostentatious Orient Express or the magnificent Karnak steamer touring the Nile, “And Then There Were None” falls neatly in this category.

Here, the action takes place in a lovely manor on a beautiful but secluded island that is unreachable except by boat. A cast of colorful characters, each with a murderous secret, have been invited to spend a few relaxing days on Soldier Island by the mysterious Mr. and Mrs. Owen, who we learn have been delayed in their arrival.

Things get awkward when an ominous recording succinctly lays out the sordid pasts of the gathered guests. The previously jovial atmosphere gives way to unease as most flat out deny the allegations, and everyone waits for their hosts to arrive and explain the meaning of this indignity. And then people start dying.

Our attention is soon drawn to the titular nursery rhyme prominently framed above the fireplace. Combine the rhyme and the fact that the small figurines on the mantle keep falling over and/or disappearing each time a new victim meets their demise, and the implication soon becomes clear: No one here will make it back to the mainland. A thorough search reveals that there are no other people on the island, therefore the murderer must be one of the 10 guests.

Everyone is in mortal danger, and no one is above suspicion. From there, the focus turns to surviving long enough for a boat to arrive and allow those still alive to escape the increasingly bizarre and elaborate murders. Hours drag on, allegiances are formed and tested, and bodies continue to pile up.

I hesitate to say much more about the plot lest I spoil its many twists and turns. I’ll simply say that “And Then There Were None” is well directed, solidly paced, and builds to a climax so full of tension that it could be cut with a knife.

Director Ashley Campbell has assembled an immensely talented ensemble cast that plays well off each other and consistently finds moments of humor in dire circumstances. The production is buoyed by excellent tech, a superb set designed by M. Derek Nieves, and beautiful costumes courtesy of Sarah Matlow.

“And Then There Were None” is a fun, well-cast thriller that should prove an enjoyable evening for Agatha Christie diehards and anyone who wants to kick off Halloween season with murder, mystery, and a side of sinister nursery rhymes.

If you go

What: Theatre TSC’s “And Then There Were None”

When: Show times are Oct. 2-4 and Oct. 10-11 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 12 at 2 p.m.

Where: TSC’s Turner Auditorium, 444 Appleyard Drive

Tickets: $18 for adults, $15 for seniors (60+) and $10 for non-TSC students and children. TSC students, faculty and staff receive free admission. Tickets can be reserved online at tsc.fl.edu. Cash and checks only when purchasing tickets at the door (the box office opens one hour prior to curtain).

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Theatre TSC presents Agatha Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None’