A classic English country home outside of London in the 40s is the setting of Playcrafters’ next stage play, “The Hollow,” first written as a novel in 1946 by the brilliant and famed queen of mystery, Agatha Christie.
It’s a lovely early September weekend at the estate when the Lord and Lady of the manor, Sir Henry Angkatell (Loren Bittner) and his wife, Lady Lucy (Michelle Quigley) invite their extended family members (mostly, all cousins) for a weekend gathering. At some point in true Christie style, the doctor (Jeff Sherman) is murdered.
Did the Butler (Clark Van Hekken) do it? The maid (Leah Forster)? Was it an accidental case of mistaken identity or none of the above? With three women in Dr. John Cristow’s life, including his subservient wife Gerda (Danielle Riedel), renowned sculptress Mistress Henrietta (Anne Lannak), and a movie star named Veronica (Lauren Rozensky Flanagan), who has designs on him after moving back into the neighborhood, a stew of intrigue ensues.
Playcrafters is prepping the murder scene with loads of laughter, innuendo and surprise.
“It’s important to bring out the humor behind the lines,” said Director DJ Suki of the romantic comedic murder mystery. Suki is a veteran of DCP making her directorial debut and a self-avowed Christophile. “Luckily I was blessed with some really awesome actors. I give them freedom to explore and to play with different deliveries. Even after seeing it a billion times, I’m still laughing. Agatha is brilliant.”
There truly is more laughter than fright in this two-act play as the characters engage themselves in finding the source of the tragedy, particularly the absent-minded Lady Lucy. Not to mention, the estate is replete with guns in the most innocuous places, and there is a shooting range on the property that everyone is familiar with.
“Everybody has a motive and everyone had a shot at it,” said Suki, with a laugh.
In the wake of the murder, Scotland Yard sends Inspector Colquhoun (Stephen Kuerschner) to the estate to try to determine who is guilty along with his assistant Detective Sgt. Penny (Patrick McGurk).
“I love the relationship between the police guys, they could star in their own show,” she said.
Also rounding out the cast is Cousin Edward Angkatell (Eric Rupp), who loves Henrietta and is jealous of Dr. Cristow, along with Midge Harvey (Julia Sims), a half-Angkatell, who disdains a family allowance to work a regular job in a London dress shop.
So who dunnit? The former lover, who threatened the victim earlier on the day he was killed? The wife? The mistress? Jealous Edward? Perhaps Lucy isn’t as scatter brained as she seems? Does Midge know something?
Pay close attention because there are clues along the way for the astute viewer. The result is an entertaining romp through the English countryside, with a dead body and a house full of high-born suspects thrown in to enliven the atmosphere.
Playcrafters presents Agatha’ Christie’s The Hollow at The Barn, 2011 Store Road and Skippack Pike (Rt. 73), Skippack, PA 19474 Performances continue Oct 21-22, 28, 29, Nov. 3-5 at 8 p.m. and a matinee Oct. 30 at 3 p.m. For tickets, call 610-584-4005 or go to www.playcrafters.org.
