‘And Then There Were None’ Thrills At Academy

          The opening night audience members were on the edge of their seats as the Academy Playhouse brought thrills, chills, laughs and more than a few deaths to the stage with the Agatha Christie classic “And Then There Were None,” directed by Anna Marie Johansen, onstage through Sept. 22.
          The entire cast brought their best performances, transforming the Academy stage into a spooky and mysterious setting that only Dame Christie could conjure. Eight strangers arrive by boat to an isolated mansion on tiny Soldier Island off the coast of Devon, U.K. The only other people on the island are a husband and wife pair hired to prepare the house, welcome the guests, and see to their needs. Each has been invited via an unexpected letter, but it soon becomes clear that no one actually knows the mysterious hosts, a Mr. and Mrs. U.N. Owen, who are nowhere to be found. 
          During their first evening in the house, a gramophone record reveals that each of the guests — and the two servants as well — are guilty of a past crime for which they have not been punished. As time goes on, the 10 accused meet their unexpected ends one by one. If they are the only people on the island, the killer must be one of their own number. But whodunit? 
          Bragan Thomas as Rogers and Julia Randall as Mrs. Rogers perfectly capture the married domestic workers who start out a bit miffed by the absence of their employers and the behavior of their unpredictable guests and gradually become perplexed, unsettled and finally terrified by the unfolding events. Ann Carpenter is very good as Narracott, a local sailor who brings the guests to the island in a boat and promises to return with bread and milk in the morning. 
          Erica Morris is wonderful as young Vera Claythorne, a former nanny who has been retained as private secretary to the lady of the house, the elusive Mrs. Owen. Or has she? Vera must contend with the flirtatious attention of Captain Philip Lombard, ably portrayed by the excellent Ryan Van Buskirk. Mark Roderick gets many laughs as the young and brash Anthony Marsten, a devil on the roads in his sports car and a bit of a wildcard among some of the more formal houseguests. Andrew Haber is suitably shifty as William Blore, who may or may not be who he claims to be. Nick Dorr is excellent as General MacKenzie, a somewhat foggy minded widower who thought he was coming to the island to reunite with some old military colleagues. Lee LaCroix makes her Academy Playhouse debut as Emily Brent, a rigidly devout woman who prefers her knitting needles to showing any sort of compassion for others. Bob Shire is compelling as Sir Lawrence Wargrave, a retired judge with a few secrets of his own, and Fred Carpenter is very good as the extremely nervous Dr. Armstrong, shivering and popping pills for his nerves as the suspense hits a fever pitch.  
          The set design and construction by Nick Dorr and Mark Roderick are beautifully done, and along with the light design by Jen Kangas and the sound design they effectively transport everyone in the audience to the mysterious house off the coast of Devon along with the characters. The period costumes by Sam Roderick are just right, as are the props and stage management by Ann Carpenter. The voice of the mysterious gramophone record provided by Don Howell is suitably chilling. 
          You won’t find any spoilers here. If you want to find out whodunit in this delightfully well produced murder mystery, you’ll have to make your way to the Academy Playhouse and find out for yourself. Just be sure you don’t have any skeletons in your own closet as you take your place among the hapless characters on Dame Christie's island. You never know who will be the next to receive their comeuppance.     

Details: 
“And Then There Were None” 
At The Academy Playhouse, Main Street, Orleans
Sept. 5 to 22
Information and reservations: 508-255-1963, academyplayhouse.org