Sadly we have reached the end of the 2025/26 theater season in Milwaukee with the Milwaukee Rep’s And Then There Were None. But this is a perfect example of last but not least as director Laura Braza continues her roll of engaging productions by bringing together another star studded cast of local favorites and new faces in a dramatic and very effective production of this Agatha Christie classic.
And this is classic Christie but with some new wrinkles. Ten individuals are invited to a remote luxury home on an island off the coast of England. Three are employees of the host/hostess, a butler, housekeeper, and secretary. I will try to provide a decent backstory here without giving too much away. It turns out all three employees have been hired very recently by post, through an agency, and have never met their employers. And the guests have all been invited by letter from someone with some pretty bad handwriting so they aren’t sure who the host/hostess is or even if they know the person. But they come anyway. Such are the problems of the English idle rich in the early 20th Century. But we have a very very diverse group of complete strangers.
And then the shenanigans begin. Anonymous accusations, side stories, back stories, and questionable aliases until it gets serious and the guests start to die unexpectedly and inexplicably. But here’s where we stray from the typical Christie. There is no Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot to take charge and discover the miscreant. Instead the characters suspect each other and then form alliances and strategies to protect themselves. Despite there being a former cop, two former military men, and a retired judge in attendance, no one seems capable of doing anything effectively. So you will be left up to your own devices to determine the villain(s). But don’t worry, ALL will be revealed in the last act quite clearly and cleverly, if maybe not quite the way one might expect.
I am not going to do any deep dives into the characters to avoid giving too much away. OTOH, this is a famous book and movie, so maybe you know it already but…going into this without any knowledge of the plot and characters, I really had a great time!
And let’s start with our local favorites. I have enjoyed James Carrington any number of times in the big stage kids musicals at First Stage. A great voice and presence, Carrington manages to shrink that presence a bit as Dr. Armstrong, melting into a ball of nerves as the deaths pile up. Matt Daniels plays Rogers, the butler. Daniels has played Scrooge for a number of years in the Rep’s Christmas Carol. As Rogers, Daniels tries to bring forth a haughty Jeeves persona but can’t pull it off under the circumstances. Mark Corkins leads in with a formal and officious General MacKenzie, with maybe a bit cranky thrown in (and maybe a bit of irony as well). Surprisingly instead of being a take charge guy, Corkins’ general just fades into accepting whatever fate Christie has to offer. And the Rep’s recent Ghost of Christmas Present makes a short appearance as Todd Denning makes the most of a small part as the working seaman Fred Narracott, the ferryman who brings everyone to the island. Steven Koehler stomps about the stage, pontificates, demands answers and abeyance as called for, and thumps his cane to gain attention as needed, in the role of Judge Lawrence Wargrave. A far cry from Koehler’s iconic role as Lloyd in Guys On Ice.
Others who have been with the Rep before: Max Pink plays Anthony Marston, a footloose and rather irresponsible young man who is the first victim . And Marcella Kearns, plays the butler’s wife, Mrs. Rogers, as a put upon, completely flustered, and highly strung housekeeper who is certainly stressing out in the chaos on the island. And coming from the Million Dollar Quartet where he played Carl Perkins, Armando Gutierrez plays William Biore, a former cop, who’s nose for crime doesn’t bode well for Biore or anyone else here. And Sarah Suzuki plays Vera Claythorne, the young woman hired to be the hostess’ secretary. Suzuki cleanly presents a solid secretary, keeping her cool, and clearly trying to make the most of a bad situation. But she also has feelings for another guest and is manipulated into an act of violence and eventually martyrdom. She was clearly an audience favorite on opening night.
And those making their debut at the Rep. Jordan Sobel is Philip Lombard. Sobel’s Lombard is something of a slippery fellow whose story doesn’t always line up, Emily Brent is a bit prickly and conservative and cold toward her fellow ‘guests’. Jessica Angelskahn knows her through and through. I would be surprised if we don’t see both of these actors on Milwaukee Rep stages in the coming seasons.
Michelle Lilly has put together an intriguing set of multiple levels that cause there to be extra suspense in the action as actors move up, down, in, and out of the set. There is also a magnificent ocean view beyond the room where the action is centered…AND…there are some wonderful art deco motifs around the room (don’t let them distract you, LOL).
Be forewarned: And Then There Were None runs two hours and fifty minutes including a 20 minute intermission. However, the pacing and tempo of director Braza’s presentation here will keep you enthralled, and you will find yourself surprised when ‘it’s over already?’.
One extra aside: once having seen the play and knowing how it all ends, it might be fun to return and try to connect the dots we missed that first time around as it all transpires.
Extra credit reading: The Program
