‘And Then There Were None’ Brings Mystery To Academy Stage

          The Academy Playhouse welcomes the lengthening shadows of autumn with the perfect murder mystery, “And Then There Were None,” onstage Sept. 5 to 22. 
           What could be better as spooky season approaches than the 1939 Agatha Christie classic that launched a thousand murder mystery tropes? A crowd of guests arrive at a rambling mansion on a remote island. A recorded message informs them that they have each committed crimes and — so far — gotten away without punishment. But not for long! As the title promises, the nervous guests begin to drop, one by one, and those who remain must try to deduce who is to blame before the time comes for their own demise. Whodunit? Don’t miss your chance to find out.
           Director Anna Marie Johansen said mysteries are always a good choice for a fall slot, since we associate mysteries with darkening skies and somber sets, just as our days become shorter and sunlight scarcer. 
          “As a reader, I've always loved reading Agatha Christie novels,” Johansen said. “Often, I think that I can figure out the identity of the villain, but she constantly surprises me. Even when rereading the stories a second or third time, I find something else to delight in, new insights into characters, a juicy detail I missed on first reading or a greater appreciation for her craft.” 
           Johansen likened the plot of “And Then There Were None” to a fishing game for kids, in which the player attempts to catch toy fish from a small pool using a magnetic rod. 
           “No matter how much the fish do not want to be caught, the fact of the matter is that they all will eventually be pulled out of their little pond with that pole,” Johansen said. “One can think of ‘And Then There Were None’ like that game. The antagonist fills their fishbowl, and then plots to catch their prey.” 
           Asked about the specific challenges inherent in bringing a murder mystery to the stage, Johansen drew a parallel between Carl Jung’s archetypes and Dame Agatha Christie’s characters. 
          “The villain falls into the familiar characteristics of the bad guy,” Johansen said. “A victim always appears an innocent. There may even be an old crone that one suspects of the ultimate evil. Then before you know it, she turns everything upside down. In the plays, each director and, of course, actor brings their own interpretation to the story. There are some crazy challenges in this play — technical details that have to be meticulously worked out. But, as a team, all will be accomplished. I'm not giving anything more away just in case someone doesn't know the play. No spoilers from me.” 
           Perhaps audiences are drawn to plays adapted from Christie’s work because they want to get reacquainted with a delicious whodunit, or just see how a new production is imagined, Johansen said. 
           “I feel lucky to work with fabulously insightful actors, costumers, stage manager, light and sound technicians, and most of all set designers, all of whom are working together to create an amazing production,” Johansen said.
           Don’t miss “And Then There Were None,” on the Academy Playhouse stage Sept. 5 to 22, featuring Ryan van Buskind, Lee LaCroix, Andrew Haber, Fred Carpenter, Bob Shire, Mark Roderick, Nick Dorr, Erica Morris, Bragan Thomas, Julia Randall and Peter Eldridge. The stage manager is Ann Carpenter, with lights and sound by Jen Kangas, special voiceover by Don Howell, costumes by Sam Roderick, set design by Nick Dorr and set build by Mark Roderick and Nick Dorr. For more information or to purchase tickets visit academyplayhouse.org.