A tale of drama, mystery and a smoking gun, with a comedic twist.
All aboard the Orient Express, where a crime has been committed and it’s up to passengers to solve the murder.
Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” is set to feature at the Pierce College Performing Arts Building Friday, Oct. 27.
The play is based on an adaptation by comic playwright Ken Ludwig. It is directed by Esdras Toussaint and features an ensemble cast which includes Jack Bernaz as Hercule Poirot, Dale van Slyke as Monsieur Bouc, and Olia Medkova as Countess Andrenyi.
According to Toussaint, the audience are getting “a rollercoaster of a ride.”
“In one night–in one play–you can come out and see a murder mystery play that is funny and touches your heart,” Toussaint said. “It speaks to something deeper. It speaks to something about justice.”
Bernaz, a professional actor who is performing at Pierce for the first time, was thrilled to be working with the theater students.
“They are uniformly professional, enthusiastic, talented and hardworking,” said Bernaz, who has worked in the theater industry for 43 years. “It’s just a joy to be part of this ensemble.”
For Toussaint, it is a “wonderful thing” to have professional actors work alongside the student actors.
“On one level, the students are seeing the professionalism that happens in the room,” said Toussaint, who has worked with the theater department for nearly six years. “On the other side, the professional actor is seeing our program and how we collaborate. There’s always something to learn for both sides.”
Van Slyke, who is a theater major, said audiences should “expect a good time.”
“It’s a funny cast who take a lot of chances and aren’t afraid to have fun on stage,” said van Slyke, who compared the character of Bouc as “a Watson to Poirot’s Sherlock Holmes. “Especially led by Jack, who is just taking the whole thing full force and just helping us all move forward with how big we can go, how funny we can make it and how serious we treat it.”
According to Toussaint, working with actors of Bernaz’s caliber forces student actors to “raise their game.”
“Imagine yourself in any field–let’s say basketball–if you’re playing with the best, you’re going to get better.” Toussaint said. “I think the students learn something from that and they see the amount of work that it takes to get to that level.
“Murder on the Orient Express” will premiere at the Performing Arts Building on Friday, Oct. 27, and continues through Sunday, Oct. 29.
Performance times start at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m., Sunday. Tickets are $15 for students, $18 for seniors and $23 for general admission. Free parking is located in Parking Lot #6, adjacent to the Performing Arts Center.
LAPC Theatre’s venues are fully accessible to those with mobile disabilities and hearing impairments.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call (818) 719-6488. Tickets may also be purchased online at lapiercecollegestore.com or lapctheatre.org.
