Matinee last local performance of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, today -- May 4, 2 p.m.
- sharonsiegel1954
- May 4
- 3 min read
By Sharon E. Siegel
PORT JERVIS, NY – Right here in our little City of Port Jervis, NY, audiences have one more opportunity to enjoy the fun (and mystery) of a classic 1930’s theater show today – right here in the historic Youth Center building on Pike Street.
Agatha Christie’s mystery story “Murder on the Orient Express” -- circa 1934 England – is being performed in its final of four enjoyment opportunities this afternoon at 2 p.m.
Presented by A.C.T. (Actor’s Community Theater Group, Inc.), this famous classic show offers anyone looking for a couple of hours of entertainment, laughs, and mystery-solving a chance to enjoy the talents of hometown actors, actresses, and other show participants locally.
This classic show tells the tale of thirteen strangers whose personalities and profiles are introduced as they wait to board The Orient Express, and expanded on as they become stranded in a snow storm and interact with one another while on the train. The storyline and characters will definitely keep you laughing, even as a death is discovered and every character becomes a likely suspect.
The plot is a murder mystery, but the story and characters bring laughs throughout the show. There is also an opportunity for audience members to guess who committed the murder, and place their guesses in ‘cast biography’ jars.
Lynsey Sullivan, a founder of A.C.T., along with her sisters and mom – Kelly, Erin and Elizabeth Sullivan, made her debut as a director with this weekend’s show. The four Sullivans, along with local performers (including entire families performing together), stage crew, assistants, and other members of A.C.T., said the group offers something valid and needed in the area.
“Every community is only enriched by the arts. We do feel supported in this community, and Port Jervis shares a kind eye to our theater group. But I wish there was a bigger conversation about the arts in general,” said Elizabeth Sullivan. “Arts need space and openness, and while we are grateful for our space here, we could really use a bigger area.”
As for the local directorial debut of Lynsey Sullivan in this weekend’s show, she is also grateful for the support of A.C.T. members and the community.
“This show offers entertainment put together by a passionate, theater-loving group that truly loves what they do,” Lynsey said. “It brings drama, but also the ‘funny’ ‘kookie’ lighter side along with the show’s hardy drama elements.”
Lynsey noted that Agatha Christie’s story takes place on the famous luxury Orient Express train, and was inspired by the real-life Lindbergh baby kidnapping crime.
A.C.T.’s newly constructed stage was built by local craftsman Matthew O'Dea along with other volunteers with A.C.T. While limited in available size and space, the set is efficiently designed and built on this new stage to portray a vintage train and boarding area. It features classic furniture, settings, and period-style actions by characters wearing period costumes and using vintage items throughout the show. The train set includes realistically created curtained sleeping compartments, including one where a body is discovered and others where featured train passenger ‘suspects’ interact from.
The show’s first performances took place on May 2 and May 3. The final show is this afternoon, May 4, 2 p.m.
For anyone who enjoys theater, or just seeing local actors and actresses shine in a couple of great hours of entrainment, it’s not too late to get tickets for today’s show at the Port Jervis Youth Center on Pike Street. You can purchase tickets at the center or by visiting A.C.T.’s website at https://theactgroupportjervis.com/shows/
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