A Reflection on "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd"

By Clark Roush

Are you ready to solve a mystery? Hercule Poirot appears again in the Yorkshire Playhouse production of “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.” One of Agatha Christie’s most celebrated mysteries, written 100 years ago, will be brought to life by the cast and crew of the Yorkshire Playhouse. What makes this particular mystery stand out in a sea of ‘Golden Age’ detective fiction? It isn’t just the cleverness of the clues or the quiet, seemingly mundane setting of King’s Abbott - a place where everyone has their gossip and every person has their secret. It is the bold, boundary-pushing narrative choice Christie made at the heart of the story. 

A cast of veteran and newer performers unite to realize the vision of Lucy Haarmann, the show’s director. Of course, murder is involved. But the tantalizing story provides other questions for the audience: Is there blackmail? Are there village secrets? Are there suspicious relatives? Is there a ‘random’ phone call? If so, who made it? You will trace answers to these questions as you see the story unfold in typical Playhouse quality. 

By the time Poirot gathers all the suspects in the study, you may have changed your mind several times regarding “Who Dunnit?”! That’s always one of the fun parts of a great mystery - waiting for the big reveal and seeing if you were right, or if you got fooled again. I am confident the ending will surprise some of you, and the clues and play itself will provide good material for coffee chats. You can count on the tension building to the very end. I can promise you, as only Agatha Christie can do, that she provides a conclusion you won’t expect. You can also count on the Yorkshire to provide an evening of wonderful entertainment, after weeks of dedicated rehearsals, memorizing lines, learning blocking, and working on the set.  

As you work your way through “I think _______ did it.” “No wait, I think it was ___________.” “Well, it could be _____________” you will be treated to a dual masterpiece - one through the script itself and another through how the actors bring the characters to life and weave clues, doubt, and suspicion throughout the play. 

In Fredrik Bachman’s book, “My Friends”, one of the characters says, “Art is what we leave of ourselves in other people.” The art this cast and crew has created no doubt leaves a part of who they are in each of us. That’s a beautiful gift, and the Yorkshire is happy to continue its dedication to bringing great theatre to the York community. 

Don’t miss this show! Performances are October 2-4, 8-9, and the 11th. Make your reservations, plan a wonderful night out, and come see if you can solve “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.”