Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express" - Adapted by Ken Ludwig - Theatre Of Northeastern Connecticut, Inc. at the Bradley Playhouse (Putnam, CT) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: The CAST of Agatha Christie's "MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS" adapted by Ken Ludwig, now playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through October 19, 2025. Photo Credit: Cindy Beckman)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“Wherever there is human nature, there is drama.”
- ("Hercule Poirot") / Agatha Christie
Theatre Of Northeastern Connecticut, Inc.
at the Bradley Playhouse
Presents Ken Ludwig's Adaptation of Agatha Christie's
"MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS"
Written by Agatha Christie
Adapted by Ken Ludwig
Directed by Kathleen Atwood and Scott A. Guerin
Cast Includes: Preston Arnold as “Hercule Poirot,” Jim Douglas as “Monsieur Bouc,” Rachel Terceira as “Mary Debenham,” Drew Goins as “Hector MacQueen,” Nick Hemeon as “Michel the Conductor / Head Waiter,” Sheila Harrington-Hughes as “Princess Dragomiroff,” Amy Stoelzel as “Greta Ohlsson,” Julianne McGourty as “Countess Andrenyi,” LaDelle P. Arnold as “Helen Hubbard,” Jack Ferdman as “Colonel Arbuthnot,” Mark Smolak as “Samuel Ratchett.”
Additional Creative Team:
Stage Manager – Natalie Crino; Assistant Stage Managers – Jessica Hall, Em Swiatek; Artistic Committee Liaison – Madeline Jaaskela; Production Assistant – Rebecca Theriaque; Production Manager – Jeanne Foley; Assistant Production Manager – Carol Schimmelpfennig; Production Coordinator – Kathleen Atwood; Set Design – Greg Brock, Carl Mercier; Set Artist – Greg Brock; Set Painters – Tonya Brock, Kerrissa Cobb, Diana Lee, Amy Stoelzel, Nora Miller; Costumer – Kris Brandriff; Seamstress – Linda Yeaw; Special Effects – Cathy Schora; Hair and Makeup – Rebecca Theriaque; Set Decorators – Greg Brock, Kathleen Atwood, Carl Mercier; Props – Bobbie Theriault, Melinda Collelo; Lighting Design – Graham Pelligra; Sound Design – Scott A. Guerin, Kathleen Atwood, Seth Crino; Projection – Aidan Horrigan; Lighting Operator – Roger Hammond; Sound Operator – Wendy Harris; Spotlight Operator – David Abbamonte; Stage Crew – Finn Haney, Kerrissa Cobb; Video Effects / Shirt Logo Design – Kyle Meredith; Set Construction – Carl Mercier, Preston Arnold, Kerissa Cobb, Brian Johnson, Amy Stoelzel, Casey Stoelzel, Jordan Miller, Andrew Lugo, Scott Guerin, Andy Colloton.
Performances:
October 3, 2025 through October 19, 2025
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
THE BRADLEY PLAYHOUSE, 30 Front Street (Route 44) in Putnam, CT. 06260-1942
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All seats reserved. Reservations may be made with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or by calling 860-928-7887.
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(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
All aboard the murder mystery train that is currently at the station in Putnam, CT. with the Agatha Christie suspense thriller, "MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS" by way of the Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut (TNECT) at the Bradley Playhouse.
The two-act play is actually courtesy of Ken Ludwig (famous for his Tony Award-winning “Lend Me a Tenor”) who adapted the story from the novel of the same name by Agatha Christie.
Ludwig himself issued a lovely personal letter of well wishes to the cast and creative team at the Bradley Playhouse in which he stated:
“𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒂 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒆 𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒅𝒂𝒑𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒔, 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 'MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS' 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆.”
Commissioned by Agatha Christie LTD, Ludwig’s adaptation of "MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS" was written in 2015 and then made its stage debut in New Jersey in 2017.
From the Christie stable of fictional literary detectives, on the "ORIENT EXPRESS" we meet fussy Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot (Preston Arnold), replete with his trademark long, dark mustache.
Arnold is just outstanding in his portrayal of Poirot and, without trying to do a standard cartoonish “Poirot impression” he instead keeps the character more realistic and thus holds our attention from beginning to end.
One of the reasons for the ongoing admiration of Christie stories is because of the fascinating and diverse characters we meet along the way to solving a mystery, usually a mystery involving a murder (or two, or several, or even “Ten”).
"MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS" is no different although it is arguably one of Christie’s best and Ludwig remains truthful to the source material.
Ludwig does so yet also weaves in moments of levity to help keep the story from deteriorating into becoming too procedural, predictable and/or dull.
Apparently, the creative team at TNECT also wanted to remain truthful to Ludwig's adaptation of the Christie source material because this is a stunningly well-crafted production.
Under the leadership of directors Kathleen Atwood and Scott A. Guerin, there is an phenomenal effort here by TNECT to present a visually stimulating, thought-provoking mystery that keeps us riveted from plot-point to turning-point and back again as the twisted tale of deceit, intrigue and murder unfolds.
(Cover Photo: The CAST of Agatha Christie's "MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS" adapted by Ken Ludwig, now playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through October 19, 2025. Photo Credit: Cindy Beckman)
Poirot catches up with an old friend, Monsieur Bouc (Jim Douglas), the manager of the "ORIENT EXPRESS" who begs Poirot for help after his train becomes the scene of a murder.
Douglas excels at the Ludwig-infused quips for those moments requiring a dose of levity.
On this disastrous train voyage from Istanbul to London, we are introduced to a group of strangers who quickly become suspects once a murder is committed on the train during a blizzard that has stopped the train cold (pun intended).
The use of the closed curtain for the opening sequences was a wise choice made by the co-directors, first allowing for projected images of the train to be used and then secondly prompting our amazement once the curtain lifts and the inside passenger cars of the train become revealed.
The intricate set design for "MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS" is as inspired as the detailed costuming used for the production.
Also, the TNECT play features the impeccable combination of specialized visual, lighting and sound effects.
Now, onto the actual "MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS" which happens shortly after miscreant Samuel Ratchett (Mark Smolak) steps aboard for what he does not expect to be (spoiler alert) his last train ride.
Found murdered in his bed, Poirot is asked by Bouc to solve the murder – not for justice – but rather to save the company from embarrassingly catastrophic publicity.
Michel the Conductor (Nick Hemeon, who also plays a Head Waiter) assists both Poirot and Bouc throughout the investigation.
(Photo: Preston Arnold as “Hercule Poirot” in a scene from Agatha Christie's "MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS" adapted by Ken Ludwig, now playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through October 19, 2025. Photo Credit: Cindy Beckman)
Poirot interviews Hector McQueen (Drew Goins) who would be a primary suspect as he was Ratchett’s personal assistant who, as Poirot learns, harbored his own dark secret for wanting Ratchett dead.
But there are many more suspects who might have had a murderous motive against Ratchett, as Poirot soon discovers.
Poirot investigates English governess Mary Debenham (Rachel Terceira) who has a mysterious background which Poirot finds both puzzling and deeply troubling.
Scottish Colonel Arbuthnot (Jack Ferdman) is over-protective of Debenham, but their actual relationship is kept vague throughout most of the story, which fuels Poirot’s irritation with both of them.
Poirot interviews Helen Hubbard (LaDelle P. Arnold) a hilarious often-married merry American widow.
The Hubbard character offered Ludwig another opportunity to infuse some humor and he definitely made the most of it, as does Arnold in her portrayal.
Similarly, Russian Princess Dragomiroff (Sheila Harrington-Hughes) is equally entertaining, but in a more “deadpan” manner (again, pun intended) as she continuously bickers with Hubbard and others aboard the train.
Harrington-Hughes is deliciously devilish delivering many of the Princess’ retorts, alleviating moments of tension in the play.
Traveling with the Princess is Greta Ohlsson (Amy Stoelzel) of Sweden, a nervous companion who falls completely apart as the deadly journey progresses.
(Cover Photo: The CAST of Agatha Christie's "MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS" adapted by Ken Ludwig, now playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through October 19, 2025. Photo Credit: Cindy Beckman)
As Poirot’s investigation continues, as he meets another suspect, he finds himself conflicted due to an attraction to the alluring Countess Andrenyi (Julianne McGourty) of Hungary.
Not only is the Countess intelligent and skilled in numerous areas, she is also self-assured and attractive, which is the source of Poirot’s conflict.
By the way, you may have noticed multiple allusions to the international community in these descriptions: French, Belgian, Hungarian, Scottish, Swedish, Russian, etc.
Well...as far as international accents go, you may want to give a pass to some of the respective approaches taken here.
The accents tend to vary from the virtually well done to the virtually non-existent.
However, none of that diminishes from the overall characterizations elicited by this delightful TNECT cast, no more than a curtain closing on top of a set piece or two (during a Sunday matinee) diminishes from an otherwise stellar production.
Poirot uncovers connections to Ratchett’s murder from a prior ghastly crime, which may help lead him to uncover the truth behind the "MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS."
(Cover Photo: The CAST of Agatha Christie's "MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS" adapted by Ken Ludwig, now playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through October 19, 2025. Photo Credit: Cindy Beckman)
"MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS" continues its journey at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. until it reaches its stop on October 19th, 2025.
In the forthcoming 2026 season from TNECT at the Bradley Playhouse the year promises to be exiting, starting off with the hilarious Neil Simon comedy “RUMORS" beginning January 30th and running through February 8th, 2026.
For tickets and more information, visit www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or call # 860-928-7887.
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Approximately two hours, 10 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
In Agatha Christie's classic "MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS" famous detective Hercule Poirot is called back from Istanbul to London on urgent business.
He intends to book a first-class compartment on the ORIENT EXPRESS, run by his former friend and colleague, Monsieur Bouc.
The train is surprisingly full, but Bouc manages to secure Poirot a spot in the first-class cabin.
While aboard the ORIENT EXPRESS, Poirot meets a host of peculiar characters: an aging Russian princess, her Swedish companion, a Hungarian countess, a Minnesota housewife, a Scottish colonel, an English governess, a French conductor, a disagreeable American businessman, and his anxious secretary.
While aboard the train, the angry businessman, Samuel Ratchett, corners Poirot and demands Poirot to investigate a series of ominous letters that have been sent to Ratchett, threatening his life.
As a snowdrift halts the ORIENT EXPRESS in its tracks, a murder takes place in a locked train compartment.
Poirot is tasked by Monsieur Bouc to solve the murder, as the killer could still be in their midst.
As Poirot investigates, conflicting clues and convoluted alibis lead him to dead ends.
Over the course of 48 hours, will Poirot be able to solve the case of the "MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS?" (STAGEAGENT)
ABOUT THE BRADLEY PLAYHOUSE
THE BRADLEY PLAYHOUSE is a 117 year-old vaudeville theatre in the heart of the Putnam antiques and restaurant district in the “Quiet Corner” of Northeastern Connecticut. Since 1991, THE BRADLEY PLAYHOUSE has been managed by the volunteers of The Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut, Inc. (TNECT). ABOUT THEATRE OF NORTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT (TNECT)TNECT produces eight main season shows per year and a number of special fundraising events for The Bradley Playhouse Restoration Fund. TNECT’s mission is to produce and sponsor quality theatre and entertainment for the residents of Northeastern Connecticut and the surrounding areas, to encourage the development of creativity through the support of local artists, and to support education and hands-on experience in the creation, direction, and production of theatre and the performing arts.
30 Front Street
P.O. Box # 71
Putnam, CT. 06260-1942
