Murder on the Orient Express at Milton Keynes Theatre Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Amanda Dando

Milton Keynes Theatre was certainly busy this evening, and with an audience of all ages, young and old, all looking forward to seeing Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express.

This has been adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig. I myself am not familiar with the books or the film, nor have I watched any series on the TV. So Hercule Poirot, Monsieur Hercules Poirot is a new character for me.

The scene is set in 1934, Poirot takes the Orient Express from Turkey and the plot unravels. A murder occurs and the mystery around who could have committed this crime takes place on stage. Despite the stage being incredibly bare, it worked. The train itself was cleverly done and worked seamlessly most of the time. Essentially the actors and actresses did all the work, creating the atmosphere and tension, mostly without props.

Michael Maloney as Hercule Poirot led an outstanding cast through the murder mystery. He certainly commanded the stage, although a slightly pompous character, there was also humour, which had the audience chuckling out loud. The first half set out the stalls as it were for all the characters travelling in first class when the murder took place. You felt in the interval you knew who had committed the crime and felt sure Hercule Poirot would find his man, or woman and bring them to justice.

The main characters Countess Elena Andrenyl, Princess Dragomiroff, her maid Greta Ohisson, Samuel Ratchett, Michel, Helen Hubbard, Mary Debenham and the Colonel all fall under suspicion for a murder that takes place on the train. It’s for Hercule Poirot to solve the crime and bring the murderer to justice. Everyone involved was flawless, their costumes certainly fitting for the era.

The play has strong themes of loyalty, injustice and how some people think they can right a wrong. The tension was evident from the start of the second half, and as an audience you were captivated and completely unsure of whom the culprit actually was.

Agatha Christie certainly is the master of a murder mystery crime and this show is wonderfully acted on stage, despite the lack of many props, you really did think you were watching a group of passengers on a train, caught in a horrible situation, each as innocent as the next person. I was completely surprised with the ending and really didn’t see it coming at all. If plays, murder, mystery, suspense are all your thing, then this wonderful play is the one for you. You will most certainly be a super sleuth if you work out who done it before the reveal. Super well done to everyone on stage tonight, a great play that was well acted and kept everyone guessing right until the end. Unpredictable until the end, murder mystery at its best.

Rating: 4/5
Murder on the Orient Express is at Milton Keynes Tuesday 25 February to Saturday 1 March 2025
Tickets cost from £27.50 subject to a transaction fee of £3.95 for more information or to book tickets visit www.atgtickets.com or call the Box Office 0800 912 6971
Milton Keynes Theatre 500 Marlborough Gate Central Milton Keynes MK9 3NZ