Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express opens at Salem’s Pentacle Theatre Jan. 17 and runs through Feb. 8.
It’s a winter night in 1934 and on the first-class coach of the famous Orient Express train, its passengers are snowbound on a mountain pass in Yugoslavia. By morning, an unlikeable American businessman is found dead — stabbed multiple times — in his locked sleeping compartment. It’s up to Christie’s famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot to solve the crime before the police arrive, and everyone on board is a suspect. You’ll be kept guessing as every new twist and turn provides plenty of theories to contemplate until the culprit finally is revealed. With an innovative visual design, this show is sure to delight you.
One of Agatha Christie’s most famous and popular whodunit mysteries, Murder on the Orient Express gets a modern stage-play update through an adaptation by talented Broadway playwright Ken Ludwig. He has polished the plot and its interesting cast of characters to a warm, rich luster.
THE CAST
In order of appearance, the cast includes Ed Schoaps as famous detective Hercule Poirot, Chris Davidson as Michele the train conductor and a head waiter, Amanda Konstantin as English governess Mary Debenham, Ryan Snyder as Scottish Col. Arbuthnot, Lynelle Littke as gabby American Helen Hubbard, Erik Vigeland as business secretary Hector McQueen, Tom Wrosch as the train company’s director M. Bouc, Julianna Gibbons as Russian Princess Dragomiroff, Alaina Lesko as baby nurse Greta Ohlsson, Anthony Redelsperger as businessman Samuel Ratchett and Abby Brockamp as the striking Hungarian Countess Elena Andrenyi.
IF YOU GO
What: Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, adapted by Ken Ludwig.
Directed by: Isaac Joyce-Shaw, aided by assistant director Ty Hendrix and technical director Chris Behnam.
Sponsored by: Glantz Law Group, LLC.
When: Friday, Jan. 17 – Saturday, Feb. 8.
Where: Pentacle Theatre, 324 52nd Ave. NW, off Highway 22, about 6 miles west of downtown Salem, Oregon.
Suitability: Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express is suitable for teens and others who can handle a story about suicide and murder.
Tickets: Range in price from $24-29.
- $29 for opening night includes a catered post-show party.
- $25 for Friday and Saturday evening performances.
- $27 for Sunday matinee performances.
- $24 for Wednesday and Thursday evening performances.
- Seniors, students and military are eligible for a $1.50 discount per ticket with ID.
- Oregon Trail cardholders are eligible for a 50 percent discount per ticket.
Where to Buy: Pentacle Theatre performances can sell out early and we encourage you to buy tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. Advance tickets are available at Pentacle’s downtown Salem ticket office at 145 Liberty St. NE or by calling 503-485-4300 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, or online anytime at tickets.pentacletheatre.org. Tickets are also available at the theater box office 45 minutes before each performance.
Student Rush Tickets: Half-price student rush tickets for last-minute open seats are available at the theater box office 15 minutes before each performance with a school ID.
Sold-out Performance Wait list: For sold-out performances, patrons may sign up in person on a first-come-first-served wait list for any “no-show” seats remaining at curtain time. The wait list opens at the theater box office 45 minutes before each performance.
For more information: PentacleTheatre.org or call 503-485-4300.
