VOS Theatre is bringing back a popular classic this fall, with their production of Murder on the Orient Express.
Matt Blundell, who played Gomez in their recent Addams Family production (and directed the Northumberland Players production of Clue) is the director of the Agatha Christie classic that runs from Nov. 14 to 23 at the Victoria Hall Concert Hall.
Blundell was interviewed by Today’s Northumberland during the construction of the luxurious train car that is the setting for the 1934 novel adapted by Ken Ludwig. A snowdrift halts its progress and, by the time things get moving again, one passenger – an American tycoon – is dead. His body has eight stab wounds, the door of his compartment is locked on the inside.
Fortunately, detective Hercule Poirot is on board, because no one can be ruled out as a suspect.
“Everybody’s having a great time, from the builders to the cast,” Blundell said.
That cast is led by Jeff Halligan as Hercule Poirot, with Stew Granger (as Monsieur Bouc), Anita Corsi (Mary Debenham), Jake Lauder (Hector MacQueen), Rick Hill (conductor), Nelia Amaro (Princess Dragomiroff), Lisa Johnson (Greta Ohlsson), Jacqueline Drager (Countess Andrenyi), Kate Blundell (Helen Hubbard), Duncan Smith (Colonel Arbuthnot), and Neil Torrie (Samuel Ratchett).
As well, 62 people are working their magic behind the scenes.
The main action will take place in a 21 ft.-by-8-ft. train car that will revolve 360 degrees on the Concert Hall stage.
“I have been told this is probably the biggest set piece VOS Theatre has built,” Blundell said.
And soon it will have to be dismantled, taken to the stage and reassembled.
“This has been a few months in the works,” he continued.
“First was coming up with the idea, the concept, how we were going to have multiple different parts of a train onstage and be able to move seamlessly through that. And then, from there, we came up with the rotating idea.
“I then came up with a sort of set design and how we are going to have a dining car and sleeping compartments and a couple of different spots on the train – and then I drew it up with a digital sort of drafting application and gave it to the builders. Then, a couple of meetings and they started building.”
The size has posed some interesting challenges. Measurements must be precise “down to the exact inch” because there’s no room to spare.
“Given the depth of the stage that we have, we are literally going to be clearing, as we turn, with about two to three inches between us and the back railing of the stage. And we will have about two feet at the front of the train,” he figures.
“We have had a good team of, I think, five builders that have been working on this since the middle of summer.”
Blundell pointed to some of the touches that will recreate the atmosphere of the late 1920s and early 1930s like the curved roof line. They had help with these details thanks to a book by Cobourg author Ted Rafuse called Wooden Cars on Steel Rails.
Another ingredient in creating the magic is the lighting. Blundell conferred with the lighting designer and conveyed their plans to the Concert Hall staff.
“Lighting is going to be a huge component of this, creating the atmosphere, creating the tension and, of course, highlighting this beast of a set,” he stated.
“Everybody loves what they’re doing, from the builders to the cast. It’s going to be a really, really good show.”
For more information on show times and tickets, visit www.vostheatre.com
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
