Christie Mystery Show Succeeds At Suspense

And Then There Were None, currently running at The Lazy Susan Dinner Theater in Woodbridge, is a play about ten criminals tricked into visiting a cozy island inn. There, they mysteriously meet their deaths, one by one. The story is based on the best-selling novel by Agatha Christie. First published in 1939, this tale continues to be compelling whodunnit..

In a recent performance, audience members sat at the edge of their seats, in rapt attention.  With the mysterious murder of each character, tensions built and accusations flew among those remaining alive in the plush, classically styled living room set. Crisp, formal British dialogue from the first half of the 20th century served to heighten the suspense. The believable characters presented seamless, well-delivered lines and actions.  In a few instances, the accents were a bit tricky to understand. However, this did not detract from the thrill of the play, and ironically, may have caused the audience to pay even closer attention. A series of clever plot twists near the story’s end had some audience members involuntarily drawing in their breath.

Actor Andy Braden said The Lazy Susan always presents an Agatha Christie murder mystery at this time of year. “There’s something about a warm, cozy place where murder happens,” he said. Braden explained that the theater’s owner, Glenn Gates, decided to choose a Christie production each winter because if he didn’t, “people would call up and say, ‘Why don’t you do an Agatha Christie?’”

In And Then There Were None, Braden plays a self-assured army captain accused of leaving a group of natives to die in the African bush. This bit of background is an example of one of the best features of the play, when characters’ pasts surface little by little. 

“The characters are great,” said Donna Neal of Woodbridge, during intermission.  Mrs. Neal said one of her favorite characters was General MacKenzie, a retired and seemingly calm army general who begins to slowly unravel throughout the course of the play. The actor’s name is Lyle Blake Smythers. “He’s amazing,” said Mrs. Neal.  "We’ve seen him in other plays here too.”

Mrs. Neal was in attendance with her husband, Virgil, and their teenage son James.

“We come here about two or three times a year,” said Mr. Neal.

Mrs. Neal’s sister, Laura Garlow, was also at the theater with her family.  She explained why she likes The Lazy Susan. “You don’t find this kind of entertainment very often,” she said.  “It’s a nice culture for the kids, different from the movie theater or the mall.  We like trying to figure out what’s going to happen next in the story.”

The sisters’ mother, Katherine Ludwig, was at the theater also, as part of her 75^th birthday celebration.  “I like it when my kids bring me here,” said Ludwig.  “Every show they put on here is good, because the actors have their own interpretation.  That’s what keeps it fresh.”

While it seemed that many of the theater’s guests were regulars, some were there for the first time. 15-year-old Dorian Cupero said she was enjoying her first visit.  Ms. Cupero had come to the theater from Falls Church with her parents. 

In one of Ms. Cupero’s favorite parts of And Then There Were None, the ten small soldier dolls sitting on the mantlepiece broke or disappeared mysteriously, one by one, at around the same time as each murder. “I really like how the dolls are disappearing. I’m trying to figure out how that happens,” she said. Ms. Cupero plans to come back and watch other shows in the future.

“We really like it here,” added her mother, Ann Cupero.  “The environment is relaxed and comfortable. And the food is really good.”

The Lazy Susan offers not only thespian entertainment, but also a buffet with employees working in both capacities. Waiter Jesse Forbes described the food as “down home country cooking." Forbes is 19 and has been working in theater since he was 13.  In And Then There Were None, he is involved in sound and lighting.

All the servers participate in the production, a fact which makes the prompt and courteous table service particularly impressive.

An additional word about the food:  it is not labeled with ingredients, so if you or anyone in your party have food allergies or dietary restrictions, you may want to call the theater ahead of time to be sure they can accommodate you.

One of the waitresses, Jennifer Pelath, worked on costumes for the current production.  She explained she began doing costuming a year and a half ago when “a lot of people were wondering where we were going to get costumes.  I guess we did a good job,” she added, of herself and fellow server Reggie Eusebio. 

Eusebio also plays the role of William Blore, who delivers many of the punch lines in the play.

All in all, And Then There Were None is yet another example of The Lazy Susan’s capacity to blend resourcefulness with creativity.