November 15, 2023 by Francisca Schmalz (‘24)
Murder on the Nile, the play inspired by Agatha Christie’s iconic book, docked at Saratoga Springs High School last weekend. As mentioned, the play comes from Christie’s book Death on the Nile, published in the UK in 1937, and then in the US the following year. The book was originally based on a play Christie wrote called Moon on the Nile. She later adapted it into the book many know, and then into a play once again, cutting a character completely from this version of the play. In 2022, the book was adapted into a movie starring Gal Gadot and Armie Hammer while being directed by Kenneth Branagh. However, that wasn’t the first time the story had been adapted for the big screen. In 1978 Death on the Nile was released in theaters, directed by John Guillermin. The twisting history for Christie’s story makes sense if you watched the Drama Club perform the play, transporting the audience and themselves back into 1930’s Egypt and having the audience on their seat the entire time of this whodunit mystery.
The cast stunned in their roles. The show doesn’t start off as nail-biting, bringing a gentle entrance into the cast. The show starts with the Bead Sellers (Ella Warden and Ella McGuinness) harassing Miss Helen ffoliot-ffoulkes (Sahiba Jassal) and her niece, Christina Grant (Sarah Pipino). While the Steward (Dante DePaulo) is attempting to usher them on board. Right away, viewers are able to get a sense of this diametric duo. Jassal’s character is the rich traditional aunt, showing her niece around the world while subsequently using Pipino and everyone else on board as her butlers. Jassal was a scene stealer, constantly having the audience in hysterics with her ‘me, myself, and I’ attitude. Jassal’s hard work was clear to see.
The crowd was then introduced to William Smith (Levi Goodman), a feisty and quick-witted young man, who is determined to marry Christina. Goodman and Pipino were hysterical together, and both seemed to embody their characters quite well. Initially appearing to be foe, the whole time Smith had been making quips against Christina, it had been an outlet for his infatuation with the young girl. The few moments Goodman and Jassal clashed on stage had the audience crying with laughter. With the cheers for both at the end, it was evident the crowd couldn’t get enough of Goodman and Jassal.
The rest of the cast was introduced quickly as the boat began to set sail, Louise (Anna Bonner) the handmaiden for Kay Mostyn (Nora Taliaferro), Dr. Bessner (Grayson Spencer), Simon Mostyn (Merrick Novicki), Canon Ambrose Pennefather (Peter Brueggemann), and finally Jacqueline de Severac (Abby DeGregory.) As the boat takes off, the audience quickly gets to learn about the love triangle aboard. Kay and Simon Mostyn are newlyweds seemingly on their honeymoon, rushing on the boat they run into Pennefather, Kay’s uncle, and he quickly realizes something is off. Kay ends up explaining she and her husband are running from his ex, and Kay’s former best friend, Jacqueline. Taliaferro did a remarkable job showing Kay’s distress while also being incandescently in love with her new husband. Her work absolutely shined through in Kay. Although her time would be cut short on stage, Taliaferro was eye-catching for every moment.
As the whodunit story progresses, the cast is astounding with regards to pulling the audience in. As the play begins its climax, we really get to see Brueggemann, DeGregory, and Novicki steal the spotlight. Pennefather is attempting to figure out what happened to his dear niece, Simon had been shot by Jacqueline and that gun was now missing. It all comes to a head when Pennefather finally figures it all out. At this point Novivki has played his final scene, leaving the crowd confused. Novivki did a phenomenal job at manipulating Kay and his performance is only more tragic when it is revealed to Pennefather by Jacqueline that she and Simon had been in cahoots all along. Noviki was charming and charismatic throughout, and it was his wonderful acting that contributed to the shocking final twist. Finally, we end the play with Pennefather and Jacqueline unfolding all the events. Jacqueline confesses to her crimes, and DeGregory’s performance really puts everything into perspective for the audience. DeGregory was great at her line delivery, and her pairing with Bruggeman for the final scene was an emotional rollercoaster. Brueggemann’s portrayal of Pennefather was magnificent. He really did well at bringing the cast of characters together and being the level-headed moral foundation for his fellow passengers on the boat. The show ended with a tear-jerking bang and was truly a must-see.
If you missed the drama club’s production of Murder on the Nile last week, make sure to look out for information on their spring musical coming in March.