By Agatha Christie
Drury Lane Theatre, Oakbrook Terrace, IL
Scenic Designer: Andrew Boyce
Costume Designer: Jessica Pabst
Lighting Designer: Paul Toben
Composer and Sound Designer: Mikhail Fiksel and Jeffrey Levin
Media Designer: Anthony Churchill
Starrring Larry Yando as Hercule Poirot
With: Sean Blake, Keith Kupferer, Janet Ulrich Brooks, Sarah Lo, Karmann Bajuyo, Sam Boeck, Ryan Imhoff, Peggy Roeder, Diana Coates, Leah Morrow
Photos: Brett Beiner and Paul Toben
PRESS:
3 (out of 4) STARS Chicago Tribune
6 Jeff Nominations, including Best Production
“In the book, Poirot ponders whether he has occasioned justice to be served and truly punished the guilty. Most productions of this show blow that part off, reckoning that the audience for Ken Ludwig’s adaptation is there to enjoy the whodunit. But here, director Jessica Fisch has far greater ambitions and Yando is ready to bare his soul.” Truly it is quite something to see.” “This is, overall, a very ambitious production from Fisch, attempting far more than your usual suburban thriller.”
”Andrew Boyce’s design, which spins from hotel to station to train and then spins around the carriages to show you all sides, got at least three separate rounds of applause on opening night, all fully deserved. Anthony Churchill, the projections designer, has created a show all of his own; don’t miss the opening sequence.”
-Chris Jones, The Chicago Tribune
“Masterfully directed by Jessica Fisch and an absolutely stunning set by Andrew Boyce - well-deserved applause several times for the train interior - transports the audience to the 1930's in the lap of luxury. Also of note and not to be missed is the opening created by Anthony Churchill the projection designer. It’s a show within a show. Even if you know the book or the movies, this is an evening of theatre not to be missed.”
- Tina St. Angelo Wetzel, Broadway World
“Fisch deftly balances Ludwig's humor with Christie's gravity in what is essentially an examination of the fine line between justice and vengeance. The delicate balance Fisch establishes is reflected in the performances of her first-rate cast.” “The intrigue unfolds on designer Andrew Boyce's impressive set, an inspired design consisting of well-appointed, luxury train cars set on a revolving stage, which makes transitions in Fisch's fluidly staged production nearly seamless.”
-Barbara Vitello, The Daily Herald
“This production sparkles from start to finish and when Yando starts to solve all the questions and riddles of the train ride, you will find yourself trying to outguess him. Don’t bother! You won’t be right! As I said every detail is sheer perfection.”
-Alan Bresloff, Around the Town
”With the fortitude of a steam engine, the plot chugs briskly along under Jessica Fisch’s direction as the 11 actors stridently deliver punchlines with their plot twists, building tension amongst themselves and giving Poirot a run for his money. “
-Kimzyn Campbell, The Chicago Reader