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Murder on the Orient Express to be staged in Abbotsford

Production by Gallery 7 Theatre runs Jan. 27 to Feb. 4 at arts centre
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(From left) Tiani Foster, Shelley Picard, Quinn Martens, Derek Ward-Hall, Karen Street, Anthony De Haan and Kenzi Dirks perform in Gallery 7 Theatre’s production of Murder on the Orient Express. (Photo by Dianna Lewis Photography)

Gallery 7 Theatre in Abbotsford stages its next production, Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, starting Friday, Jan. 27.

The play, adapted by Ken Ludwig, runs until Feb. 4 at the Abbotsford Arts Centre, 2329 Crescent Way.

Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express dead in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of year.

An American business tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed eight times, his door locked from the inside.

Isolated and with a killer in their midst, the passengers rely on the detective, Hercule Poirot, to discover the murderer before they strike again.

Ken Hildebrandt, Gallery 7’s artistic director, says the play is a timeless classic that explores the nature of imperfect justice, and will keep audiences guessing until the very end.

“We’re very excited to be producing another intriguing mystery by one of the most beloved mystery writers of all time,” he said. “This story explores what justice is, giving audiences lots of food for thought even as they try to figure out who the murderer is.”

Playing the role of Hercule Poirot is Abbotsford resident Derek Ward-Hall, who has performed in productions of The Boys Next Door and Around the World in 80 Days for Gallery 7 Theatre.

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Playing the role of Poirot’s good friend, Monsieur Bouc, is Chilliwack resident Brady Moore, and the role of Colonel Arbuthnot is played by Anthony de Haan, also of Chilliwack.

Rounding out the cast are Kenzi Dirks, Tiani Foster, Sarah Green, Brennan Loewen, Quinn Martens, Shelley Picard, Karen Street and Liam Whatley.

Theatre professor Kate Muchmore Woo is the director. She has directed numerous productions for Gallery 7 Theatre, including Enchanted April, This Wonderful Life, and the company’s first Shakespeare production, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Set design is by Jeff Kiers, props design is by Charlene Crawford, costume design is by Emily Krack, lighting design is by Nigel Brooke, sound design is by Elijah Kroeker, makeup and hair design is by Miranda Martin and fight choreography is by Stephen Elcheshen.

The stage manager is Rachel Fast and production photography is by Dianna Lewis Photography.

Murder on the Orient Express runs Jan. 27 and 28 and Feb. 1-4 at 7:30 p.m. with matinees on Jan. 28 and Feb. 4 at 2 p.m.

Visit gallery7theatre.com or call 604-504-5940 for tickets and more information.

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