by FHS Eagle Beat reporters Mayrin Espinoza and Callie Morgan
FHS Drama Club will perform Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express for the community on Sunday, March 3 at 3 p.m. Tickets will be $10 for adults and $5 for students, available at the door. The One Act Play members will perform the play for district contest at the Teague Jr/Sr high Auditorium on March 5.
“I like it,” freshman Adalyn Peterson said. “I like murder mystery. The characters aren’t what they seem.”
The original script is a two-act play, which was adapted for the stage by playwright Ken Ludwig, and is based on the novel of the same title. Director Hannah Koenig cut the length of the play to approximately 40 minutes, as per UIL rules.
“It’s very different from the book,” sophomore Bailey Holland said, “but I think it achieves the tone the playwright was going for.”
At district competition, Fairfield will perform second, with the first show beginning at 9 am. A panel of three adjudicators determine the top three schools, which will advance to the bi-disctrict meet held later in March.
“I like one act play because, to put it simply, I like acting,” junior Newton Hartley said. “I love taking a character, having an abstract idea of him in my head, and turning that character into a person by putting my own soul into him. I love putting my soul into things, because I feel like doing so is the ultimate expression of who I am. Besides that, OAP lets me bring joy to people. It really is quite heartwarming, causing laughter. I am also a very unorganized person, and when a play goes well, I feel like every one piece goes into its slot seamlessly. It’s very satisfying.”
The cast and crew have been rehearsing since school resumed in January.
“I like my character. I’m nothing like her in real life,” senior Deyla Morgan said. “It can be a bit tricky to adjust to the role change. enjoying it and wish I had joined OAP sooner. We have a talented group of people to work with.”
The cast includes Newton Hartley as the lead detective Hercule Poirot, Aidan Cobb as Monsieur Bouc owner of the Wagon-Lit, Mason Edwards doubling as villainous Samuel Ratchett and temperamental Colonel Arbuthnot, Kynzee Payne as the boisterous Mrs. Hubbard, Emma Smith as the stunning Countess Andrenyi, Skylar Bonner as the intimidating Princess Dragomiroff, Anna Moyer as her fearful assistant, Jude Rounds as the nervous secretary, Deyla Morgan as the cool and collected Mary Debenham, and Ben Kilkenny as the conductor Michel. The crew includes Bailey Holland on sound, Kiera Walker and Raeleigh Kendziora on lights, Mariana Aguilera, Eashan Kalyanji, Madison Russell, Adalyn Peterson, and Nadia Hoskins as stage crew members.
