In a whirlwind of mystery and humor, Liberty University’s Department of Theatre Arts unveiled its rendition of Agatha Christie’s classic, “Murder on the Orient Express” Oct. 17 in the Black Box Theater.
Set on a luxurious train in 1934, this production creates an evening of heart-pounding suspense, intricate characters and a web of secrets that unravels with every twist.
The production follows the renowned Belgian detective Hercule Poirot as he boards the train for what should be a peaceful vacation. However, when the trip goes awry, the ride becomes a twisted mystery among the passengers that can only be solved by Poirot.
The intimate setting of the Black Box Theater allows the audience to feel as if they are on the Orient Express with the characters.
Professor Chris Nelson directed the show and explained that faculty choose shows each season that point to a redemptive arc. “Murder on the Orient Express” encourages viewers and performers to recognize the deeper themes in the show, including Poirot’s moral questions about collective guilt and redemption.
Senior acting student Lucas Geddes plays the lead.
“I play Hercule Poirot, a French-speaking Belgian detective,” Geddes said. “I love Agatha Christie, so when I found out we were doing the play I thought it was awesome.”
Throughout his time at Liberty, Geddes has performed in numerous theater productions, and his role in “Murder on the Orient Express” has profoundly shaped his growth as an actor while concluding his journey in the acting program.
“It has just been a really awesome learning opportunity,” Geddes said. “Even though it is my senior capstone, it is not the end. There is always a further step to go. There will never be perfection, so you just always go further.”
Geddes highlighted the play’s climactic monologue, where Poirot poses a moral question that lingers with the audience, leaving them to ponder the idea of justice without a definitive answer. “There are so many fun, comedic moments, but then the last part of the play hits you,” Geddes said. “If the audience walks away with the question — if they leave thinking — that would be great.”
Each cast member brings their own interpretation and intensity to the show, creating a dynamic balance of wittiness, tension and humanity. Senior acting student Ashlyn Manley portrays the Countess Andrenyi, another passenger entangled in the murder.
“(Andrenyi) is extremely intelligent,” Manley said. “She is very confident in herself and has a very big heart.”
Manley brings a layered performance to the role, capturing the countess’s sophistication and vulnerability, particularly towards the end of the play.
“Act two, scene three is my favorite scene in the show,” Manley said. “You get to see a side of the countess that you haven’t seen before. You really get a sense for her heart as some of her walls come down.”
As the show concludes and the killer is revealed, the audience is faced with a moral dilemma as empathy clashes with justice.
“I hope the audience asks the question of what is right and wrong,” Manley said. “As Christians, we should always be questioning that, because we want to live our lives like Jesus.”
By the end of the journey on the Orient Express, the story becomes more than a mystery: it becomes a mirror to the human heart. The cast and creative team deliver a performance that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling, inviting audiences to consider not only who committed the crime, but why.
“Murder on the Orient Express” will run in the Black Box Theater through Oct. 26. For information on showtimes and tickets visit https://www.liberty.edu/arts/theatre/tickets/.
Long is a staff writer for the Liberty Champion.