Where the Nursery Rhyme Ends: For the Whim’s And Then There Were None

by Sarah Dorsey

And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie, tells the haunting tale of ten strangers that were brought together on a remote island by a mystery “U.N. Owen.”  While the strangers prepare to settle into the home, they hear an eerie recording through the gramophone accusing each guest of a horrifying past. Tension escalates when the guests begin to die one by one– with each death mirroring the lines of the macabre nursery rhyme hung above the fireplace. Who is the killer? Well, I didn’t attend the show to spoil the ending, but as the line goes, “A rattlesnake at least gives warning.” I encourage you to grab a ticket and enjoy the show for yourself at For the Whim.

The theatre, For the Whim Productions, is a small intimate theatre spaced in the Hopeloft building on the Commerce Street of Bridgeton, NJ. The box office greeters were especially helpful as I stepped into the theatre for the first time. They assisted patrons with locating the QR code for the program as well as the “voting system” for the audience to decide how the show will end. That’s correct! The audience picks how the show will end, and the cast is prepared to perform either ending. Major shoutout to the cast for preparing two separate endings to this Christie play. Don’t miss the voting opportunity– it’s to the right of the steps before walking into the theatre.

Under the direction of Melissa Kiessling, assisted by Lazuli Ritteler, the eleven person cast brought to life Christie’s murder mystery play. Kiessling did an outstanding job casting this production, with four cast members making their For the Whim debut– as denoted in the program. With Heidi Dugan’s stage management, the show ran very smoothly– actors were at places on time, the set was ready for each cast member to interact with, and the light and sound cues were on time– thanks to Joe and Heidi Dugan.  The production utilized the murder mystery framework to showcase some truly fluid physical movements, with the cast falling and moving about the space in a calculated manner. Thanks to Heidi Dugan (intimacy and combat choreographer) and Brian Danner (assistant combat choreographer) the actors were able to use the space freely and realistically. Each prop felt purposeful, providing the actors with clear direction and ease during the production thanks to Heather Anne Runyon and Emily Seningen. It is clear that the cast and crew work well together in this production. They all did an extraordinary job bringing this murder mystery to life on stage.

Jim Ludovici as Rogers and Patty Fralinger as Mrs. Rogers did an excellent job entering the stage as frantic and urgent to get the house ready for the guests. Joining them in the frenzy was Bob Cook as Fred Naracott, the food and supplies provider. All three actors did an outstanding job setting the scene and demonstrating the rush of the moment for the audience. Eliza Seay as Vera Claythorne portrayed her character with elegance and grace. While she played a significant role, it was at times more difficult to hear her over the others; however, this could have been a character choice for Vera’s despondent nature as the play continued on. Paul “Cheever” Ranck as James Marston did a wonderful job bringing the witty banter and laughs to his performance– with an excellent costume and classic accent, he portrayed Marston wisely and carefully.

Brian Danner gave a compelling performance as Philip Lombard. He was quick with his lines and actions and helped keep the show moving along. Kamin Sylvia as William Blore provided the comic relief at the beginning but created a more elusive nature to his character as the show continued on. He was wise and clear with his acting choices. When Richard Mooney stepped onto the stage as General MacKenzie for the first time, he gave the audience a poignant portrayal of loss and acceptance of his fate. He brings to the stage clear experience and expertise to the character as well as the stage experience. Joyce Maxwell gave a stellar performance as Emily Brent. Her accent, facial expressions, and actions were nothing short of spectacular. She was consistent with her accent and behaviors as Emily. Some people in the audience really took to pointing fingers at her as the killer, but I can’t say whether they were right or wrong.

Steve Ciapanna prepared a strong Sir Lawrence Wargrave. Ciapanna navigated brief pauses in dialogue with clear direction and grace for his character. Last, but certainly not least, Hank Chandless portrayed Dr. Armstrong. Wise and gentle, Chandless commanded the stage upon his entrance and kept the audience engaged with his character’s kind nature and interesting history. All the actors had a wonderful performance on opening night. They worked together to tell the story and played off of each other well. Not every actor used the classic British accent for the play; however, most attempted an upper-middle class accent while others began to drop their accent as the play went on. The actors did an extraordinary job bringing original depictions of each character.

The set by Melissa and Tom Kiessling was simple yet effective. Living room setting with a couch, chairs, coffee table, fireplace, and a large window “overlooking” the water. The fireplace, stationed stage left, was used effectively to house the tiny soldiers that represent each of the guests. As they began to disappear one by one, the audience started to be more alert to see who was removing each soldier. One set piece really stood out in the dialogue, but not too much with its “stage presence" - the bearskin rug. I wish it could have been more prominent as the characters take clear direction around this specific piece for momentary dialogue. It was placed in a location that was difficult to see from some seats in the audience. Additionally, the costumes, by Melissa Kiessling and Lazuli Ritteler, were modest and clear for the time period of Christie’s play.

And Then There Were None runs from April 24-May 2 at For the Whim Productions in Bridgeton, NJ. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ftw-presents-and-then-there-were-none-tickets-1845845265879?aff=ebdsoporgprofile in advance online for $23.18 or at the door for $28.52.