By Keolanani Kinghorn
CenterPoint Legacy Theatre has brought us a delicious murder mystery to solve in their current production of A Murder is Announced. As I made my way to my seat, I noticed a sign that read “Who is the Murderer?” Below the sign, pictures of each character were posted, and jars stood waiting to be filled. These were obviously meant to be used during the intermission. I was excited. I turned the corner and entered CPT’s black box theater to find the mood was perfectly set for an Agatha Christie play: opulent Victorian furniture filled the set—including a chandelier—in this English home, the perfect dim lighting created an ambiance of mystery, and an eerie suspenseful music played in the background. All around, I was highly impressed with the attention to detail by the production team: lighting design by Nathan Hadley, set design by Brian Hahn and Addie Holman, sound design by Camille Chandler, and Director Addie Holman.
Fans of the movie Clue will love, A Murder is Announced, as it has a similar plot: This play takes place in the small English town of Chipping Cleghorn, a notice appears in the morning paper announcing that a murder will take place on Friday, October 13th at Little Paddocks at 6:30 PM. This apparently comes as a great surprise to Letitia Blacklock (Marinda Maxfield), the owner of Little Paddocks, as she had no idea what the notice meant; she didn’t place it and none of her companions knows more than she. Miss Blacklock decides to take it in stride and prepares to welcome guests for that evening. The lights go out, shots are fired, and panic ensues. When the lights come on, they discover a dead body in the next room. The police are called and attempt to solve the case will little success. Luckily, Miss Marple (Meredith Carlson) gets involved and methodically unravels the mystery.
Carlson as Miss Marple is one of the highlights of the play. An overly inquisitive neighbor and amateur detective in her 60s or 70s, Miss Marple is one of Christie’s iconic characters. Her quick wit, honest demeanor, and immediate rapport with the inspector are delightful to watch. The entire story revolves around Letty Blacklock, in whose house the play is set. Maxfield does a fabulous job of guiding the cast and audience through this story. She is a seasoned actress, and it shows through her genuine interactions with each cast member.
Dora “Bunny” Bunner (Hillary McChesney) was one of my favorite parts of this production. Every choice is thoughtful and hilarious: her imitation of the quacking ducks, the way she observes that “wild horses” couldn’t keep Edmund and Clara away from the party, when she offers to get Mrs. Marple coffee and puts nearly a cup of sugar in it, her subtle communication with the birds in the tapestry hanging on the wall, and especially when she makes herself a beard with the yarn she struggles with—I broke down in giggles that time.
I thought the set was well thought out: it felt spacious even though we were in the black box.
Overall, I thought the entire cast: Hungarian maid Mitzi (Krislyn McBride), Julia Simmons (Katie Plott), Patrick Simmons (Blake London), Phillipa Haymes (Laryn Welch), Inspector Craddock (James Boley), Mrs. Swettenham (Kiersten Honaker), Edmund Swettenham (Trevor Elmer) and Sergeant Mellors (Chad N. Wilburn) do an outstanding job with this Agatha Christie play. But, more importantly, the audience enjoyed themselves and the experience. After they voted during the intermission, the small black box felt like a dinner party as groups chatted filling the stage. An older gentleman turned to me and asked, “So who did you vote for? Who did it?” I replied, “Well, aren’t they all guilty? Isn’t that Agatha Christie’s signature move?” We laughed and chatted until the end of intermission.
So, who was the murderer? You will have to go to find out. But don’t wait to get tickets. I hear they are almost sold out.
I suggest ages 12 and up.
Centerpoint Legacy Theatre presents A Murder is Announced, by Agatha Christie, adapted by Leslie Darbon.
Centerpoint Legacy Theatre, 525 N 400 W, Centerville, UT 84014
July 29-August 20, 2022, Monday, Thursday – Saturday 7:00 PM
Tickets: $16
Contact: 801-298-1302
Centerpoint Legacy Theatre Facebook Page
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