ChristieFest 2017

TAKE ONE! FREE PROGRAM C E L E B R AT I N G T H E M Y S T E R I O U S L I F E AND MURDEROUS WORK OF

AG AT H A C H R I S T I E

1 7 T H M A S T E R P L AY W R I G H T F E S T I VA L

FE B RUARY 8 –26 PRESENTED BY

ROYALMTC.CA/MPF

The Winnipeg Free Press is proud to support

CHRISTIEFEST 2017 february 8–26, 2017

winnipegfreepress.com/subscribe

MESSAGE FROM ROYAL MTC’S

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Agatha Christie was many things – apothecary, surfer, novelist, fugitive, archaeologist – but she was also the most successful female playwright in history, and the only one ever to have three plays on London’s West End at the same time. Her best-known play, The Mousetrap, has been running there continuously for the past 62 years. She’s only the second woman we’ve honoured with a Master Playwright Festival, and the first writer of mysteries (unless you count Stoppard, whose play The Real Inspector Hound was a satiric homage to plays like Christie’s).

Audiences love plays about detectives and the mysteries they solve, but they are devilishly difficult to write. Christie had to lay out clues that somehow keep us from guessing the identity of the murderer yet make the climactic revelation seem obvious in retrospect. The characters must be sympathetic yet suspicious.

The murder must create suspense but not disgust. The dialogue must be both clever and realistic. The conclusion must satisfy us intellectually and emotionally. And the themes – love, justice, redemption – must resonate with an audience even after the whodunit is solved. It’s a wonder any writer bothers trying, let alone mastering the bloody things.

Yet Christie spent her life writing great mysteries for the stage and page, a task for which she was singularly wellsuited. She drew on her pharmaceutical experience for the poisons that feature prominently in her work. Her 11-day disappearance – and the highly publicized manhunt it inspired – taught her about suspense and the popular imagination.

Even archaeology informed her crime detection because, in both, “you have to clear away the debris to reveal the shining truth.” With ChristieFest, we hope to reveal the shining truth about this beloved playwright and her unquestioned mastery of our art form.

Yours always,

Steven Schipper Artistic Director

BIOGRAPHY

AGATHA CHRISTIE 1890-1916 THE EARLY YEARS Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller was born on September 15, 1890 in Torquay, Devon, South West England into a middle class family. What made her upbringing unusual, even for its time, was that she was home schooled largely by her father, an American. Her mother, Clara, who was an excellent storyteller, did not want her to learn to read until she was eight but Agatha, bored and as the only child at home (she was a much loved “afterthought” with two older siblings) taught herself to read by age five.

1916 – 1924 POIROT IS BORN It was during the First World War that Agatha turned to writing detective stories. Her debut novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles took some time to finish and even longer to publish. She started writing partly in response to a bet from her sister Madge that she couldn’t write a good detective story and partly to relieve the monotony of dispensing work.

(When the hospital opened a dispensary, she accepted Bio courtesy www.agathachristie.com 4 ROYALMTC.CA/MPF

The Christie Archive Trust

an offer to work and completed the examination of the Society of Apothecaries.) She first worked out her plot and then “found” her characters on a tram in Torquay. She finished the manuscript during a two-week holiday. Her newfound expertise in poisons was also put to good use.

The murderer’s use of poison was so well described that when the book was eventually published, Agatha received an unprecedented honour for a writer of fiction – a review in the Pharmaceutical Journal.

1925 – 1928 A DIFFICULT START Once returned from the Grand Tour, the family were reunited and settled in the suburbs outside London. It was a difficult time for Agatha – her mother had died and she was often alone clearing out the family home in Torquay and struggling to write her next novel. Her relationship with husband Archie broke down when he fell in love with a friend of the family, Nancy Neale.

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1929 – 1938 A NEW START One of Agatha’s lifelong ambitions had been to travel on the Orient Express and her first journey took place in the autumn of 1928. Persuaded by a chance dinner party conversation, Agatha set off for Baghdad and from there travelled to the archaeological site at Ur where she became friends with the Woolleys who ran the dig. Invited back the following year, she met 25-year-old archaeologistin-training Max Mallowan who was to become her second husband. Their relationship was forged by travel – Max could “rough it” and so could Agatha. They were married on September 11, 1930 and Agatha only slightly reduced her age in her new passport acquired for the honeymoon.

1939 – 1945 THE WAR YEARS The Second World War saw Max get a wartime job in Cairo – using his languages to assist the war effort while Agatha remained in England, writing and volunteering at the Dispensary at University College Hospital in London.

1946 – 1976 THE LATER YEARS By 1945 and the return of Max with the end of the war, Agatha had realised the tax implications of writing so much. She became less prolific and now in her mid-50s enjoyed a slower pace of life. The 1940s and 50s saw much time-consuming work with theatrical productions which limited the time Agatha could devote to writing. Her last public appearance was at the opening night of the 1974 film of Murder on the Orient Express starring Albert Finney as Hercule Poirot. Her verdict: a good adaptation with the minor point that Poirot’s moustaches weren’t luxurious enough.

After a hugely successful career and a very happy life, Agatha died peacefully on January 12, 1976. She is buried in the churchyard of St. Mary’s, Cholsey, near Wallingford.

THANK YOU TO OUR CHRISTIEFEST SUPPORTERS!

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SELECT WORKS BY AGATHA CHRISTIE PLAYS Black Coffee (1930) Love from a Stranger (1936) Appointment with Death (1938) And Then There Were None (1939) Murder on the Nile (1948) The Mousetrap (1952) The Hollow (1952) Spider’s Web (1954) Witness for the Prosecution (1954) Verdict (1958) The Unexpected Guest (1958) Go Back for Murder (1960) Rule of Three (1963) Fiddlers Three (1971) Akhnaton (1970) Cards on the Table (1982) A Murder is Announced (1997)

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NOVELS The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926) Peril at End House (1932) Murder on the Orient Express (1934) The ABC Murders (1935) And Then There Were None (1939) Five Little Pigs (1943) Crooked House (1949) A Murder is Announced (1950) Endless Night (1967) Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case (1975) – written during the Second World War FILM ADAPTATIONS A Night of Terror (1937) And Then There Were None (1945) Witness for the Prosecution (1957) Murder, She Said (1961) Miss Marple’s First Outing (1961) Murder at the Gallop (1963) Ten Little Indians (1965) Murder on the Orient Express (1974) Death on the Nile (1978) The Mirror Crack’d (1980) Evil Under the Sun (1982)

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FREE FESTIVAL EVENTS INTRODUCING CHRISTIE LECTURE Tuesday, February 7 at 7:00pm King’s Head Pub, 120 King’s Street (2nd floor) No wheelchair access

Born in 1890, Agatha Christie became, and remains, the bestselling novelist of all time.

Where did this shy, modest woman find inspiration for such memorable characters? Where did she learn so much about poisons and other methods of untimely death? How did her life experiences translate into stories of murder and intrigue? In this lecture, we’ll explore her background, her family relationships and major influences, and also delve into the winning formula of the English murder mystery she honed to perfection.

Guest Host: John Bluethner John is an actor and director who has participated in numerous Master Playwright Festivals. He has been an avid Agatha Christie fan since his late teens.

Discovering Christie: A Directors’ Panel Sunday, February 12 at 12:00pm Tom Hendry Warehouse, 140 Rupert Avenue (at Lily) Wheelchair accessible Panelists: Ann Hodges (Royal MTC, Black Coffee) Frances Koncan (Vault Projects, The Hollow) Eric Rae (Tara Players, Love From a Stranger) Luis Reis (Winnipeg Mennonite Theatre, And Then There Were None) Everyone loves a good mystery – or so we assume since Agatha Christie has sold a billion copies in the English language. Mystery fans are thrilled by the hidden clues and unexpected twists that are characteristic of the genre. But do the tricks used to create suspense make it challenging for actors and directors? We’ve assembled a crack team of directors to reveal the secret to presenting an Agatha Christie play.

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PBS DOCUMENTARY THE MYSTERY OF AGATHA CHRISTIE WITH DAVID SUCHET Tuesday, February 14 6:30pm Millennium Library, Carol Shields Auditorium 251 Donald Street (2nd floor) Wheelchair accessible

David Suchet, TV’s Poirot, has spent more of his life acting out the plots and dramas created by Agatha Christie than anyone else in the world. In this PBS documentary, Suchet explores the links between Christie’s extraordinary life and her work, and discovers what it is about this woman from a small seaside town that allowed her to become the bestselling murder mystery writer in history.

HOW CHRISTIEFEST WORKS FEBRUARY 8 – 26 Individual tickets start at $12 Tickets are available by contacting the box office for each production. See the company write-ups in this program for details.

ChristiePass only $90 The best way to experience the festival offerings is by purchasing a ChristiePass. A pass allows one admission to each production at a saving of 50%. Buy today, the number of passes is limited!

BUY YOUR PASS AT THE ROYAL MTC BOX OFFICE CALL 204 942 6537 | VISIT 174 Market Ave. Admission to all events is subject to availability. All sales final, no exchanges or refunds. Tara Players’ Feb. 11 dinner theatre performance is not included in the pass. ChristiePass not applicable for A+ section of Royal MTC’s Black Coffee. royalmtc.caMPF | #ChristieFest

We take the mystery out of branding. relishbranding.ca

AND THEN THERE WAS ONE (A SPOOF)

BY MICHAEL DRUCE MERLYN PRODUCTIONS Forrest Nickerson Theatre, Deaf Centre Manitoba 285 Pembina Highway Wheelchair accessible Capacity 180 This family-friendly one-act spoof of Agatha Christie’s famous stage mystery is all comedy, filled with hilarious sight gags and dialogue!

Ten people arrive by mysterious invitation to the Reef Mansion on an isolated island. Like the chocolate soldiers that inexplicably disappear from the mantel one by one, the guests begin to die one by one... until we discover the farcical twist in the final scene!

From the producer of Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations (AyckbournFest 2016) comes “a delightful script that doesn’t miss any opportunity for lively comedy and humour.”

Director: John Chase www.merlyn.biz

“Well, let’s see. There’s six of us left and only six chocolate soldiers. But in the beginning there were ten chocolate soldiers. I think it’s obvious… someone is stealing the chocolates.” wed feb 22 7:30pm thu feb 23 7:30pm fri feb 24 7:30pm sat feb 25 2:00 & 7:30pm sun feb 26 2:00pm

60 minutes tickets $12 children & teens (under 18) $10 group rates available for 10 or more at the door: cash/christiepass box office opens 30 minutes before showtime. in advance: visit www.merlyn.biz call 204 415 2714

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AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

BY AGATHA CHRISTIE WINNIPEG MENNONITE THEATRE Théâtre Cercle Molière 340 Provencher Boulevard Wheelchair accessible Capacity 125 Ten strangers, seemingly with little in common, are lured to Soldier Island off the coast of Devon, England by the mysterious U.N. Owen. Over dinner, a recording begins and the voice of their unseen host accuses each person of hiding a guilty, deadly secret. That evening, one of the guests is murdered with a lethal dose of poison. The tension slowly mounts as the survivors realize the killer is not only among them, but is preparing to strike again...and again...and again...

Director: Luis Reis www.winnipegmennonitetheatre.ca

“Ten little soldier boys went out to dine; One choked his little self And then there were Nine...

One little soldier boy left all alone; He went and hanged himself And then there were None.” wed feb 8 8:05pm thu feb 9 8:05pm fri feb 10 8:05pm sat feb 11 2:05pm & 8:05pm

2 hours tickets $20 students $15 at the door: cash/cheque/visa/mastercard/ christiepass box office opens one hour before showtime. in advance: visit www.winnipegmennonitetheatre.ca call 204 488 7432

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BLACK COFFEE

BY AGATHA CHRISTIE ROYAL MANITOBA THEATRE CENTRE

“HASTINGS, EVERYONE HERE IS A SUSPECT.”

John Hirsch Mainstage 174 Market Avenue Wheelchair accessible Capacity 787

Trouble is brewing at the estate of physicist Sir Claud Amory.

A potentially dangerous – and extremely lucrative – formula has gone missing. Sir Claud has trapped his guests in the library and summoned world-famous detective Hercule Poirot to smoke out the thief. Before he arrives, someone is murdered. Can the great Poirot solve the murder and prevent a nuclear disaster?

Director: Ann Hodges Cast: Claire Armstrong, Mariam Bernstein, Andrew Cecon, Lorne Kennedy, Omar Khan, Arne MacPherson, Ross McMillan, Derek Moran, Daria Puttaert, Miriam Smith www.royalmtc.ca

“This coffee is very bitter.”

- SIR CLAUD AMORY feb 8 to mar 4 mon, thu 8:00pm tue, wed, fri 7:30pm wed (feb 15, 22 & mar 1) 2:00pm sat 4:00pm & 8:30pm

approx. 2 hours (incl. intermission) tickets start at $26.50 at the door: cash/interac/visa, mastercard, american express/christiepass box office open 12:00-8:30pm, mon-sat. christiepass not applicable for a+ section. in advance: call 204 942 6537 visit royalmtc.ca

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CLUE AT THE MUSEUM DALNAVERT MUSEUM & ACROSS THE BOARD CAFÉ Dalnavert Museum 61 Carlton Street Wheelchair accessible Capacity 36 Join us for a Clue cocktail party at Dalnavert!

Across The Board Café and the Dalnavert Museum are teaming up to bring you a thrilling evening of fun, finger food, prizes and murder! Play the game, solve the case and then watch the outcome played out LIVE with exciting local talent in the Victorian mansion.

A fun way to get into the Agatha Christie spirit and experience many facets of Winnipeg culture all at once! www.dalnavertmuseum.ca

“To win, you must determine the answers to these three questions: Who done it? Where? And with what weapon?”

- PARKER BROTHERS mon feb 13 7:00 & 9:00pm

running time 1 hour, 30 minutes tickets $25 at the door: cash/visa/mastercard/interac/ christiepass museum hours: wed–sun, 12:00–4:00pm in advance: visit www.clueatthemuseum. brownpapertickets.com call 204 943 2835 christiepass only accepted at the door if seats available.

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SCHEDULE

MASTER

#CHRISTIEFEST

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7 7:00pm

Introducing Christie (lecture) WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8 7:00pm

The Mousetrap The Hunting Party 7:30pm Love from a Stranger 7:30pm Black Coffee 8:05pm And Then There

Were None 7:30pm

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9 7:00pm

The Mousetrap 7:30pm Verdict 7:30pm The Hunting Party 7:30pm Love from a Stranger 8:00pm Black Coffee 8:05pm And Then There

Were None FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10 7:00pm

The Mousetrap 7:30pm Verdict 7:30pm The Hunting Party 7:30pm Love from a Stranger 7:30pm Black Coffee 8:05pm And Then There

Were None

Continued on next page

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14

1:00pm

6:30pm

The Mousetrap 2:00pm Verdict 2:05pm And Then There

Were None 2:30pm Witness for the Prosecution 4:00pm Black Coffee 6:30pm Love from a

Stranger (Dinner

Theatre show) 7:00pm The Mousetrap 7:00pm Murder on the

Orient Express (film) 7:30pm Verdict 7:30pm The Hunting Party 8:05pm And Then There

Were None 8:30pm Black Coffee 10:30pm The Mousetrap SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12 12:00pm

Discovering Christie:

A Directors’ Panel (lecture) 1:00pm The Mousetrap 2:00pm Verdict 2:00pm Love from a Stranger 3:00pm The Hunting Party 7:00pm The Mousetrap 7:30pm A Murder is Announced 7:30pm The Hunting Party MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13

The Mystery of

Agatha Christie

with David Suchet (film) 7:30pm Verdict 7:30pm The Hunting Party 7:30pm Love from a Stranger 7:30pm Black Coffee WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 2:00pm

Black Coffee Murder She Said

(1961) (film) 7:30pm The Hunting Party 7:30pm Love from a Stranger 7:30pm Black Coffee 6:30pm

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16 7:30pm

The Spider’s Web 7:30pm Love from a Stranger 8:00pm Black Coffee FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17 7:00pm

7:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

The Inscrutable Fugue of Agatha Christie The Spider’s Web The Hunting Party Love from a Stranger Black Coffee The Hollow The Inscrutable Fugue of Agatha Christie

7:00pm

Clue at the Museum Verdict 7:30pm The Hunting Party 8:00pm Black Coffee 9:00pm Clue at the Museum 7:30pm

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21

2:00pm

6:30pm

4:00pm 7:00pm

7:30pm 7:30pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

The Spider’s Web Black Coffee The Inscrutable Fugue of Agatha Christie The Spider’s Web The Hunting Party Love from a Stranger The Hollow Black Coffee The Inscrutable Fugue of Agatha Christie

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19 2:00pm

The Spider’s Web The Hollow 3:00pm The Inscrutable

Fugue of

Agatha Christie 3:00pm The Hunting Party 7:30pm The Hunting Party 2:00pm

7:00pm

7:30pm 7:30pm 9:00pm

Death on the Nile (1978) (film) The Inscrutable Fugue of Agatha Christie The Hunting Party Black Coffee The Inscrutable Fugue of Agatha Christie

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22 2:00pm 7:00pm

7:30pm

7:30pm 7:30pm 9:00pm

Black Coffee The Inscrutable Fugue of Agatha Christie AND THEN THERE WAS ONE (a spoof) Black Coffee The Hunting Party The Inscrutable Fugue of Agatha Christie

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23

7:00pm

7:00pm

The Inscrutable Fugue of Agatha Christie 8:00pm Black Coffee 9:00pm The Inscrutable

Fugue of

Agatha Christie

7:30pm

7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

The Inscrutable Fugue of Agatha Christie AND THEN THERE WAS ONE (a spoof) The Hunting Party Black Coffee The Inscrutable Fugue of Agatha Christie

Continued on next page

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26

7:00pm

2:00pm

7:30pm

7:30pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

The Inscrutable Fugue of Agatha Christie AND THEN THERE WAS ONE (a spoof) The Hunting Party Black Coffee The Hollow The Inscrutable Fugue of Agatha Christie

2:00pm 3:00pm 3:00pm

7:30pm 9:00pm

AND THEN THERE WAS ONE (a spoof) The Hollow The Hunting Party The Inscrutable Fugue of Agatha Christie The Hunting Party The Inscrutable Fugue of Agatha Christie

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25 2:00pm

4:00pm 7:00pm

7:30pm

7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

AND THEN THERE WAS ONE (a spoof) Black Coffee The Inscrutable Fugue of Agatha Christie AND THEN THERE WAS ONE (a spoof) The Hunting Party The Hollow Black Coffee The Inscrutable Fugue of Agatha Christie

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THE HOLLOW

BY AGATHA CHRISTIE VAULT PROJECTS The Rocker 91 Albert Street (3rd floor) No wheelchair access Capacity 30 Hollow: (adj.) empty; meaningless; futile.

Place: An art gallery.

Time: Doesn’t matter.

On opening night of a new exhibit at an art gallery, a group of friends reunite for an evening of revelry and debauchery to celebrate the act of creation – of art, of culture, of community – and of destruction – of the past, the future and each other.

A vibrant reimagining of a classic play, The Hollow is a theatrical investigation of insincerity and earnestness, authenticity and artifice, of being full and being hollow.

Directors: Frances Koncan & Angelica Schwartz Cast: Ian Bastin, Randi Beauvais, Kevin P. Gabel, Franziska Glen, Christina Heather, Cathy Herbert, Rachel Hiebert, Elena Howard-Scott, Tomasz Maciejewski, Glenn Odero www.vault-projects.com

“The worst of murder is it does upset the servants so.” fri feb 17 8:00pm sat feb 18 8:00pm sun feb 19 2:00pm fri feb 24 8:00pm sat feb 25 8:00pm sun feb 26 2:00pm

2 hours (with intermission) tickets $20 students/seniors/industry $15 at the door: cash/christiepass box office opens 30 minutes before showtime. in advance: email vaultprojectsproductions@gmail.com

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THE HUNTING PARTY

BY MARC A. MOIR LOOKING GLASS PRODUCTIONS Colin Jackson Theatre (PTE) 393 Portage Avenue (3rd floor, Portage Place) Wheelchair accessible Capacity 100 The real-life mystery of Agatha Christie. In December of 1926, Christie was shattered to learn her husband was leaving her for another woman. On Friday, December 3 at 9:45pm, she got into her car and drove across the Surrey Downs… and disappeared for 11 days.

In this exciting new production by Marc A. Moir (Padre X), Agatha Christie finds herself in the middle of one of her own murder mysteries. A mystery with a conclusion so shocking it will keep you guessing right to the end.

Director: Marc A. Moir Cast (in order of appearance): Harry Nelken, Laura Moir, Shane Hartry, Marc A. Moir, Scot Moir, Ron Robinson, John Bluethner, Shannon Loewen, Agatha Moir, Rhiannon Benedict, Jon Ted Wynne, Garry Moir

“A hunting party; just with a different sort of prey and a different sort of hunter.” wed feb 8 7:30pm thu feb 9 7:30pm fri feb 10 7:30pm sat feb 11 7:30pm sun feb 12 3:00 & 7:30pm mon feb 13 7:30pm tue feb 14 7:30pm wed feb 15 7:30pm fri feb 17 7:30pm sat feb 18 7:30pm sun feb 19 3:00 & 7:30pm tue feb 21 7:30pm wed feb 22 7:30pm thu feb 23 7:30pm fri feb 24 7:30pm sat feb 25 7:30pm sun feb 26 3:00 & 7:30pm

2 hours, 40 minutes (with intermissions) tickets $20 at the door: cash/christiepass box office opens 30 minutes before showtime. in advance: call 204 475 0483 at mcnally robinson (1120 grant ave.)

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Loyalty Card Program Join for FREE now in-store or at madeformaking.com/rewards and receive $25 print credits* Use promo code: ChristieFest001 20% discount offered to participating ChristieFest companies.

THE INSCRUTABLE FUGUE OF AGATHA CHRISTIE

BY LEIGH-ANNE KEHLER ECHO THEATRE / SAUCY GAL Dalnavert Museum 61 Carlton Street Wheelchair accessible Capacity 30 An argument A disappearance A surfboard “To the person reading this note, Agatha needs to go away for a bit. She’s unable to cope for now. Please, don’t worry yourself. She’ll return when she’s up to it.”

Follow Agatha Christie as she leads you from a proper Victorian parlour (literally), to an English spa at Harrogate and to the salty seashores of South Africa (theatrically) as she attempts to solve the mystery of her own life events.

A mystery comedy about a real-life event (with a cash bar). www.echotheatre.net

“I need an archaeologist for a husband. His interest will only grow as I age!” fri feb 17 7:00 & 9:00pm sat feb 18 7:00 & 9:00pm sun feb 19 3:00pm mon feb 20 7:00 & 9:00pm tue feb 21 7:00 & 9:00pm wed feb 22 7:00 & 9:00pm thu feb 23 7:00 & 9:00pm fri feb 24 7:00 & 9:00pm sat feb 25 7:00 & 9:00pm sun feb 26 3:00 & 9:00pm

60 minutes tickets $20 students/seniors/theatre workers $18 at the door: cash/visa/mastercard/interac/ christiepass box office opens 45 minutes before showtime. in advance: visit www.agathachristiesfugue. brownpapertickets.com call 204 223 6099 email echoboxoffice@gmail.com

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LOVE FROM A STRANGER

BY AGATHA CHRISTIE TARA PLAYERS Irish Association of Manitoba 654 Erin Street No wheelchair access Capacity 83 Cecily wins the lottery but unfortunately her sudden wealth leads to a disagreement with her fiancĂŠ Nigel, and the two break up. Cecily quickly falls in love with the romantic and mysterious Bruce, and marries him. Little does she know, something is not quite right with her new beau.

Director: Eric Rae Cast: Johanna Burdon, Brigitte Plouffe, Jessina Cheffins, Heather Madill, Edward Wiebe, Pete Hudson, Scott Douglas, Tom Young www.facebook.com/taraplayers wed feb 8 7:30pm thu feb 9 7:30pm fri feb 10 7:30pm sat feb 11 6:30pm (dinner theatre show, no passes) sun feb 12 2:00pm tue feb 14 7:30pm wed feb 15 7:30pm thu feb 16 7:30pm fri feb 17 7:30pm sat feb 18 7:30pm

2 hours, 15 minutes tickets $15 $60 for sat feb 11 dinner theatre show (four-course dinner and play) at the door: cash/credit/christiepass box office opens one hour before showtime. in advance: visit www.taraplayers.eventbrite.ca email taraplayers@irishassociation.ca

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THE MOUSETRAP

BY AGATHA CHRISTIE DRAMATIC THEATRE Dramatic Arts Centre 585 Ellice Avenue Wheelchair accessible Capacity 230 The world’s longest-running play hits the Dramatic Mainstage this February!

A group of strangers is stranded in a boarding house during a snowstorm, one of whom is a murderer. Come and find out who the murderer is in one of Christie’s most famous productions.

From the producers of A Song at Twilight (CowardFest) and Bedroom Farce (AyckbournFest) comes a murder mystery that will leave you guessing until the very last murder.

Director: Justin Danyluk Cast: Amanda Nickels, Brian Langlotz, Kelley Hirst, Mike Silk, Ken Stone, Vic Unruh, Megan McGonigal & Tony Porteous www.dramatictheatre.net wed feb 8 7:00pm thu feb 9 7:00pm fri feb 10 7:00pm sat feb 11 1:00, 7:00 & 10:30pm (latenight murder mystery) sun feb 12 1:00 & 7:00pm

2 hours (with intermission) tickets $15 $10 for feb 11 10:30pm show only at the door: cash/visa/mastercard/interac/ christiepass box office opens 30 minutes before showtime. in advance: visit www.dramatictheatre.net call 204 416 5205 (24-hour voicemail)

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A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED

BY AGATHA CHRISTIE, ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE BY LESLIE DARBON ACTRA MANITOBA/ PAL WINNIPEG Tom Hendry Warehouse 140 Rupert Avenue (at Lily Street) Wheelchair accessible Capacity 286 The residents of Chipping Cleghorn are intrigued by an ominous announcement in the town gazette. Is there really going to be a murder that evening? Miss Marple, among others, cannot resist finding out. Many clues, twists and turns later, Miss Marple solves the crime, showing that seniors can be canny mystery solvers. This reading is a benefit for the Performing Arts Lodge. A brief intermission gives the audience the chance to guess ‘whodunit’ and one lucky detective will be awarded a copy of Christie’s biography.

Director: Megan McArton Cast: Eleven of Winnipeg’s finest and most-loved professional actors

“A murder is announced and will take place on Friday, October the thirteenth, at Little Paddocks – at six-thirty pm.” sun feb 12 7:30pm

2 hours tickets $15 (suggested donation to pal winnipeg) at the door only: cash/christiepass box office opens one hour before showtime

#CHRISTIEFEST

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MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS

BY AGATHA CHRISTIE DALNAVERT MUSEUM Dalnavert Museum 61 Carlton Street Wheelchair accessible Capacity 60 Join us after the reading of Witness for the Prosecution for the 1974 film classic Murder on the Orient Express amidst our collection of steam trunks!

This Agatha Christie whodunit boasts an international cast of some of the most eccentric characters ever created.

Detective Hercule Poirot settles into what he expects will be a relaxing journey aboard the Orient Express. When an unpopular billionaire is murdered en route, Poirot takes up the case and everyone on the famous train is a suspect!

Cash bar and FREE popcorn!

Director: Sidney Lumet Cast: Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Martin Balsam, Ingrid Bergman, Jacqueline Bissett, Jean Pierre Cassel, Sean Connery, John Geilgud, Wendy Hiller, Anthony Perkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Michael York www.dalnavertmuseum.ca sat feb 11 7:00pm

127 minutes tickets free (donations welcome) in advance: Visit www.dalnavertmuseum.ca Call 204 943 2835 Museum hours: Wed–Sun, 12–4pm

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FREE FILMS MURDER SHE SAID DEATH ON THE NILE

BY AGATHA CHRISTIE WINNIPEG PUBLIC LIBRARY Millennium Library, Carol Shields Auditorium 251 Donald Street (2nd floor) Wheelchair accessible Capacity 120

Murder She Said (1961) Margaret Rutherford stars as Miss Marple, who begins her own investigation when no one believes she witnessed a murder in a passing train. Rated G wed feb 15 6:30pm

90 minutes

Death on the Nile (1978) As Hercule Poirot enjoys a luxurious cruise down the Nile, a newlywed heiress is found murdered on board. Rated PG tue feb 21 6:30pm

135 minutes

tickets free

doors open 30 minutes before showtime.

#CHRISTIEFEST

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THE SPIDER’S WEB

BY AGATHA CHRISTIE R-G PRODUCTIONS Forrest Nickerson Theatre, Deaf Centre Manitoba 285 Pembina Highway Wheelchair accessible Capacity 180 Clarissa, the second wife of Henry Hailsham Brown, is adept at spinning tales of adventure for their bored diplomatic circle. When a murder takes place in her drawing room, she finds live drama much harder to cope with, especially as she suspects the murderer might be her young stepdaughter, Pippa. Worse still, the victim is the man who broke up Henry’s first marriage! Clarissa’s fast talking places her in some hairraising experiences, as she comes to learn that the facts are much more terrifying than fiction.

Director: Heather Forgie

“What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” thu feb 16 7:30pm fri feb 17 7:30pm sat feb 18 2:00 & 7:30pm sun feb 19 2:00pm

2 hours tickets $15 students $12 at the door: cash/christiepass box office opens one hour before showtime. in advance: call 204 297 6539 email hforgie@gmail.com

28 ROYALMTC.CA/MPF

VERDICT

BY AGATHA CHRISTIE SHOESTRING PLAYERS Forrest Nickerson Theatre, Deaf Centre Manitoba 285 Pembina Highway Wheelchair accessible Capacity 180 Brilliant professor Karl Hendryk is torn between his ailing wife, Anya, and her friend and cousin, Lisa. The arrival of a manipulative and attractive young student, Helen, further complicates matters.

One of the rare dramas written specifically for the stage by Christie, Verdict is NOT a murder mystery – although a murder does take place. The story becomes a ‘whydunit’, as opposed to a ‘whodunit’, raising many questions of morality along the way.

Directors: Mike Seccombe & Karl Eckstrand Cast: Rob Kwade, Marleen Jonker, Bernard Boland, Andrea Marantz, Sami Desiree, Hayden Maines, Carol Stephens, Neil Johnson, Craig Oliphant

“Love isn’t just glamour, desire, sex appeal – that’s nature’s start of the whole business.

It’s the showy flower, if you like. But love’s the root.” thu feb 9 7:30pm fri feb 10 7:30pm sat feb 11 2:00 & 7:30pm sun feb 12 2:00pm mon feb 13 7:30pm tue feb 14 7:30pm

2 hours (with intermission) tickets $15 at the door: cash/christiepass box office opens 45 minutes before showtime. in advance: call 204 475 6821

#CHRISTIEFEST

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WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION

BY AGATHA CHRISTIE THE AFC Dalnavert Museum 61 Carlton Street Wheelchair accessible Capacity 60 First produced in October 1953, Witness is regarded as one of the three greatest mystery plays of all time. We experience a dazzling array of twists and turns as barrister Sir Wilfrid Robarts tries to prove that Leonard Vole is innocent of murder, despite the damning testimony of Vole’s wife, Romaine. In 1953, Ivor Brown praised the play for its “... agonized outbreak in the dock...” that requires the audience to decide if Romaine could be a “snake in the grass.”

The 1958 film noir version is also a masterpiece, best known for the fine performances of Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton.

Director: Brian Richardson www.afchelps.ca

“Want to kiss me, Ducky?” sat feb 11 2:30pm

2 hours, 30 minutes tickets pay what you can at the door only: cash/christiepass box office opens one hour before showtime.

30 ROYALMTC.CA/MPF

COME AND TRY THE BEST FISH AND CHIPS IN THE CITY! Open for lunch daily FRIDAY LUNCH CURRY BUFFET

PATRONS & PERFORMERS VISIT US AND ENJOY OUR

NIGHTLY DINNER SPECIALS HAPPY HOUR MON - THURS 2 PM - 7 PM Hours: Monday – Friday 11:30 AM – 2 AM Saturday and Sunday 2 PM – 2 AM

120 KING STREET Phone 204-957-7710

JOHN HIRSCH MAINSTAGE

How do you get over getting dumped?

BY ANNABEL FITZSIMMONS, ALISON LAWRENCE & MARY FRANCIS MOORE

MAR 14 – APR 8 “A sellout success” – toronto life magazine

Experience heartbreak and hilarity against a soundtrack of 60s hits including Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, I Will Survive, I Hear a Symphony and Walk on By.

TICKETS START AT

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CALL 204 942 6537 | VISIT ROYALMTC.CA WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE, MATURE CONTENT, POOR LIFE DECISIONS