Addison Trail to present fall play, ‘Murder on the Orient Express’

Addison Trail students rehearse for the school's upcoming fall play, Agatha Christie's “Murder on the Orient Express” (adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig). Performances will take place on Nov. 7, 8 and 9.

Addison Trail Theatre invites all students, parents/guardians, alumni, staff, community members and friends to jump aboard and enjoy a classic “whodunit,” as the school presents its fall play, Agatha Christie's “Murder on the Orient Express” (adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig).

“I've been looking at more serious murder mysteries for a while and wanted to bring this to the stage here at Addison Trail,” said Anna McSweeney, Addison Trail Theatre Director. “While it's a typical genre for high schools, I’m incredibly proud of the hard work our students are putting into the show, especially with language and accents.”

The play’s small ensemble features 10 actors, all of whom have a prominent role. According to BookRags, Inc. (https://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-murder-on-the-orient-express/#gsc.tab=0), “Murder on the Orient Express” focuses on “… a murder committed in the middle of the night on a train traveling from the Far East to Europe. While the train is stuck in a snowdrift, the identities, motives and alibis of the passengers are investigated by the renowned Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. As Poirot delves into the mystery of what happened that fateful night, the (story) explores themes relating to the nature of justice, the power of family ties, and the inevitable triumph of logic.”

The cast described Poirot as a “world-famous detective, who solves crimes and helps lost and misguided souls.” They said audience members can look forward to a “fun ride” with twists and turns and an unexpected ending, as the story is filled with intrigue and nuanced characters.

McSweeney said this production has challenged the actors, as they’ve had to learn a variety of accents to portray the characters. The crew has been stretched as well, as the set features a deconstructed train that moves – a physical representation of how Poirot deconstructs the situation to arrive at the truth.

“Murder on the Orient Express”
When: 7 p.m. on Nov. 7, 8 and 9, 2024 (also a 2 p.m. performance on Nov. 9)

Where: Addison Trail High School, 213 N. Lombard Road in Addison

Tickets: Tickets cost $7 for adults; $5 for children ages 12 to 17; and are free for children younger than 12 years old and for those with a District 88 student ID or a District 88 Senior Gold Card. Tickets can be bought online at https://omella.com/brgws or at the box office 30 minutes before each performance.

For questions or more information: Call 630-628-3365

Cast: View the cast list at www.dupage88.net/ATFallPlayCast2024-25.