Quote of the Day: Hercule Poirot returns in another new Agatha Christie adaptation from Kate Danley (The Mysterious Affair at Styles). When a desperate plea brings Poirot and his ever-loyal companion Captain Hastings to a quiet French village, they arrive just a stroke too late—their wealthy client has been found murdered on a golf course. As the investigation begins, the duo must navigate a rough course of rival detectives, secret affairs, and shifting identities. In a case where no one plays it straight, Poirot’s “little grey cells” are in for his greatest challenge yet. Synopsis for the play Murder on the Links, an Agatha Christie murder-mystery, new stage adaptation by Kate Danley, directed by Linda Paulsen, on stage at Theatre in the Round, Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 21 – Dec. 21, 2025. 

The Theatre in the Round Players (TRP), the longest running community theater in the Twin Cities, produces an Agatha Christie play as their “holiday” play every year. It’s not Christmas themed! It’s more of an alternate offering. While most theaters have Santa, Scrooge, and all the traditional holiday characters and sentimentality, TRP chooses a murder mystery. It has it’s own coziness. It’s like the old tradition of gathering around the fire place on Christmas Eve and telling ghost stories. TRP’s offering of a cozy mystery is something you can watch with family and friends, try to solve the mystery together, and discuss it afterwards. Considering that these shows tend to sell out, TRP has a winning formula for a not so traditional holiday gathering.

TRP produced Kate Danley’s adaptation of The Mysterious Affair at Styles in 2022, and it was terrific. There was something fresh about her take on Christie’s first novel, the one where she introduced the world to the famous detective Hercule Poirot. Linda Paulsen also directed that production, which was the world premiere. I learned later that the creative team at TRP helped Danley develop her script. I was so impressed with how they could take an English countryside, manor, and eccentric family into this unique space and really make it work. 

Ben Tallen as Hercule Poirot, Jake Leif as Capt. Arthur Hastings, and Gerard Scheett as Monsieur Hautet in Murder on the Links at TRP in Minneapolis, thru 12/21/25. Photo courtesy of TRP

Returning to his role as Hercule Poirot is Ben Tallen. He does well in portraying the fussy detective. Poirot notices everything and everyone. Nothing gets by him. He sees beyond the surface. When something doesn’t add up, he digs deeper to investigate. One thing about this story, though, is that Poirot disappears for a portion of it to go off and uncover the missing pieces to the lives of certain characters. Jake Leif is also reviving his role as Captain Arthur Hastings for this production. He is delightful, distracted, and determined to show his friend Hercule that he can figure things out, too.

In Murder on the Links, we get two more detectives working the case. Gerard Scheett plays Monsieur Hautet, and James J. Ruth plays Monsieur Giraud. Both seem to be local detectives, while Hastings and Poirot have been called in to investigate, by the deceased. They all share their discoveries. I think they could have played up the humor of four men working on the same case a little more. Most of the time, they’re stumbling around with speculation while Poirot twirls his mustache and nods knowingly. The best scenes were when Poirot and Hastings discussed the case. This play has a relatively large cast who are all connected in some ways. It’s not always easy to keep track of everyone.

Gerard Scheett as Monsieur Hautet and James J. Ruth as Monsieur Giraud in Murder on the Links at TRP, thru 12/21/25. Photo courtesy of TRP

The set, designed by Madeline Achen, is mostly a center section that is used as a train car, the outside garden, and a few other scenes. They also go into a side section that is the toolshed. Those scenes were less effective for us, as we sat adjacent to that set area. I think the seats across from it would have been better since they could see into the space. They also staged the scenes in a bedroom on the landing area near the top of the seating. They lost us a little there, too, because we couldn’t see or hear the actors very well. It’s tricky in this space to include all the sections of where the audience members sit. Lighting design by Mark Webb, and sound design by Kristin Smith help to give us a place to focus. Lovely costumes designed by Colleen O’Dell and Hunter Goldsmith represented the period well, Early Spring French countryside, 1920. 

I don’t think this book adapted as well to the stage as The Mysterious Affair at Styles. Maybe it’s the setting. Maybe the action of the story happens off stage too much in the book, as well, or maybe it wasn’t as easy to pull it off on stage. We mostly hear about the crimes rather than see any of it happen, which makes this a show heavy on dialogue and low on action. The Mysterious Affair at Styles is one of my favorite Christie adaptations. Danley did a brilliant job bringing the page to the stage, along with direction by Paulsen and the creative team at TRP. I had high expectations for Danley’s latest adaptation, but as a story, it was less engaging. 

As I said earlier, TRP’s Agatha Christie plays sell out, and this one is no exception. Please contact the box office at Theatre in the Round Players if the date you were hoping to go is sold out. They can put you on a wait list. Although the performance that I attended on Saturday night was sold out, there were a few seats empty – probably due to the heavy snow and icy roads in and around Minneapolis.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Quote of the Day: Do you have any non-traditional traditions for this time of year?