AGATHA CHRISTIE'S THE UNEXPECTED GUEST
Saturday, October 18, 2008 9:23 AMThe Unexpected Guest opens August 26th at the New London Barn Playhouse for a one-week engagement, closing the 2008 summer season with a mystery thriller from the legendary Agatha Christie, writer of such classic plays as Witness for the Prosecution and The Mousetrap.
Often called the "Queen of Crime," Christie, in addition to some eighty detective novels, wrote numerous mystery plays. Many of these, including The Unexpected Guest, saw successful productions in London's West End (where her Mousetrap has run uninterrupted since 1952) and elsewhere. Christie is probably best known for her ability to craft a parade of convincing suspects and motives, only to reveal the true identity of the murderer in a surprise twist at the very end--and Guest is no exception.
In this unusual mystery, a motorist stranded by the roadside happens upon a nearby house to discover a disturbing scene--a man lies dead on the ground; his horrified wife stands nearby, gun in hand. She confesses, but the stranger is unconvinced, and as the police investigate, many come under suspicion. Was it the mentally retarded half-brother, the wife's secret lover, or the old enemy from the dead man's sordid past? The suspense remains until the final minutes in an ending that is truly unexpected.
Dartmouth Professor Peter Hackett, Chair of the College's Theater Department, directs this fascinating thriller for the Barn stage. He has spent over thirty years in the professional theater, holding positions including Artistic Director of the Cleveland Play House and Director of New Plays at the Denver Theater Center. Recent work includes The Winner at Dallas' Lyric Theater and A Number at Northern Stage.
The Unexpected Guest runs for a one-week engagement from Tuesday, August 26th through Sunday, August 31st. Evening performances are at 8:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday and 5:00 PM Sunday, and the Wednesday matinee is at 2:00 PM. Please call 603-526-4632/6710 or 800-633-BARN (2276) for tickets or more information.
