Kansas City Actors Theatre brings mysterious and witty Mrs. Christie to UMKC
Photo by Brandon Parigo
In the hilariously mind-bending play written by Heidi Armbruster, Mrs. Christie explores the mysterious eleven-day disappearance of famous English writer and “Queen of Crime” Agatha Christie, alongside present-day parallels starring Lucy, a Christie fan who gets wrapped up in a hunt for a possible hidden manuscript.
While audiences may have read Agatha Christie classics like And Then There Were None or Murder on the Orient Express, this play focuses on the story of the author herself and the highs and lows of her life as a writer.
Kansas City Actors Theatre puts on a spectacular two-hour show in co-production with the UMKC Conservatory, with a fifteen-minute intermission between acts one and two.
Actor Hillary Clemens plays the titular character of Agatha Christie, and her powerful performance, as well as her convincing British accent, juxtaposes extremely well with the secondary story, which brings the play into the present day, focusing on Lucy, played by Dri Hernaez.
Photo by Brandon Parigo
Act one first gives the audience a look into the scandalous life of Christie, who is dealing with an unfaithful husband who hates that she is a novelist, and the all-consuming grief at the death of her mother. Quite abruptly, the time period changes to the modern day, where Lucy is exploring a Christie festival and steals photocopies of Agatha Christie’s journal, hinting at a possible missing Christie manuscript. She then goes on a journey with a fellow Christie fan, Jane, played by Peggy Friesen, to find this manuscript, as well as her true life’s calling.
The second act brings on a much darker undertone, as Agatha battles her inner demons and slips into a dreamlike world. The lighting’s darker hues, combined with the frantic state of Agatha’s mind, mirror Lucy’s frantic state as she almost gives up on her search.
Photo by Brandon Parigo
The play deals with real mental health issues, casting light on how grief can affect a person, no matter their age or circumstances.
As the play ends, the audience is left wondering what was real and what was not, which is part of the beauty of this play. This production bends reality in a way that even the most cynical of theatergoers will appreciate, creating a lasting memory and a particularly intriguing storyline of mystery, humor, and a reminder to always listen to your heart’s truest desires.
Mrs. Christie runs at the Spencer Theater at UMKC through June 28.
