Who doesn’t love a good murder mystery? My favourites are those written by Agatha Christie and which feature her two fictional detectives Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. The stories can sometimes be a little twee but what I like is that Christie focusses more on character and crime solving than the crimes themselves.
Murder on the Orient Express is one of her most well-known stories and now Auckland Theatre Company, with the ever inventive director Shane Bosher, has brought Ken Ludwig’s stage adaptation of the tale to our city.
If you are not familiar with the plot, the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Cameron Rhodes) finds himself traveling on the luxurious train from Istanbul to Paris. On board are a collection of curious passengers that include a Russian Princess, a Hungarian Countess, a wealthy American businessman, and several other interesting individuals and train company employees. Sometime after midnight the businessman is murdered and all on board are suspects. With the train stuck in a snow drift, Poirot must uncover the killer and unravel a much deeper and sinister story behind the murder.
At the heart of the story is of course the iconic Hercule Poirot who has in the past been played by a list of legendary actors such as Peter Ustinov, Kenneth Branagh, and David Suchet. It’s a role that an actor has to get right and in this incarnation Cameron Rhodes absolutely does. His perfect embodiment of Poirot is a clever mix of charisma, wit, and of course ego.
His cast mates are equally strong with every character well formed and each with their own quirks and distinctive personalities. Collectively they created a heady mix of melodrama, comedy, and genuine drama.
Hard as it is, if i were to pick a couple of moments that stood out they would be Rima Te Wiata as Helen Hubbard singing Alexander’s Ragtime Band and a wardrobe malfunction that brought the biggest laughs of the night including one, for the briefest of moments, from the seemingly unflappable Poirot himself.
I must also complement the design team for creating a sumptuous theatrical experience. John Verryl’s ingenious and very elaborate interchangeable set included a hotel dining room as well as the exterior and various interiors of the famous train. Watching scene changes was bewitching. Elizabeth Whiting’s costume designs were, as always, elegant and perfectly matched to the 1930s. All of this complemented by Sean Lynch’s dramatic lighting design and Paul McLaney’s music and sound design.
This Murder on the Orient Express manages to get the balance of the story just right, paying homage to the brilliance of Agatha Christie while expertly using comedy and a light hearted irreverence to create a crackingly good whodunnit. My recommendation – get a ticket and get on board for an enchanting journey.
Picture credit – Andy Crown
Watch my interview with Cameron Rhodes here:
AGATHA CHRISTIE’S MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
22 April – 10 May 2025
ASB Waterfront Theatre – Auckland