“Murder on the Nile" at the Playcrafters Barn Theatre -- September 12 through 21.
Friday, September 12, through Sunday, September 21
Playcrafters Barn Theatre, 4950 35th Avenue, Moline IL
Lauded by DC Theater Arts as the "definitive whodunit ... rife with scandal, suspicion, deceit, and, of course, murder," Agatha Christie's Murder on the Nile, the stage version of the legendary novelist's Death on the Nile, enjoys a September 12 through 21 run at Moline's Playcrafters Barn Theatre, DC Theater Arts adding that the theatrical mystery showcases "Christie’s inarguable genius for plot twists and tangled webs of deception."
In Chrisie's Murder on the Nile, Kay Ridgeway has led a charmed life. Blessed with beauty, enormous wealth, and a new husband, she embarks on a honeymoon voyage down the Nile. Fatal circumstances await, however, when the idyllic surroundings are shattered by a shocking and brutal murder. Under scrutiny is a multitude of memorable passengers, all with a reason to kill. The tension and claustrophobia build as a shocking and audacious conspiracy is laid bare in this theatrical rendition of Christie's classic Death on the Nile, which premiered at Dundee Repertory Theatre under the title Hidden Horizon and later opened at the Ambassadors Theatre in the West End in March of 1946.
Making her directing debut for Playcrafters with Murder on the Nile is Karen Riffey, a castmate from last year's family hit Charlotte's Web whose other area acting credits include roles in Genesius Guild's Iphigenia in Aulis and Madea. Fellow Playcrafters veteran Shyan DeVoss serves as the production's stage manager, with additional members of the creative team including: producer Bailey Hager; lighting designer Gio Macias; set builder Mike Roberts; prop master Elias Holmes; and poster designer Jesse Mohr.
Kathryn Klatt makes her first appearance on the Barn Theatre stage with Murder on the Nile, the ensemble also featuring familiar local performers Rodrigo Guevara (Genesius Guild's Antony & Cleopatra) and Justin Raver (the Richmond Hill Barn Theatre's Escanaba in da Moonlight). Completing Riffey's cast, meanwhile, are nine gifted veterans of the Playcrafters stage: Greg Braid (Little Women); Leslie Day (A Streetcar Named Desire); Khalia Denise (Skeleton Crew); Mark Garden (12 Angry Jurors); Scott Gehret (The Sunshine Boys); Jonna Hicks-Bird (The Diary of Anne Frank); Ashley Hoskins (The House of Blue Leaves); Terri Nelson (The Game's Afoot); and Julia Sears (Bad Seed).
Murder on the Nile runs at Moline's Barn Theatre September 12 through 21, with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Admission is $16-18, and more information and tickets are available by calling (309)762-0330 and visiting Playcrafters.com.
