Left to Right: Norman Price (P. C. Benson), Alan Barnett (Superintendent Battle), and Joseph Downs (Nevile Strange) in “Towards Zero” at Laurel Mill Playhouse. Photo by John Cholod and Reese.
What could be more fun on a winter’s night than to try to solve a wonderful Agatha Christie mystery with friends? Laurel Mill Playhouse is currently presenting “Towards Zero” by Christie and Christopher Verner, produced by Maureen Rogers and directed by Larry Simmons. The play was written in 1944, and this is the script Christie wrote with Verner, not the one she wrote on her own the year before.
It is a typical Christie scenario. We are transported to the house of a wealthy woman, Lady Tressilian (Maureen Rogers). Visiting the dowager are Neville Strange (Joseph Downs), his new wife Kay Strange (Aparna Sri) and his former wife, Audrey Strange (Dana Fleischer). Other guests include Thomas Royde (Michael Angeloni), Mathew Treves (John Cholod), and coming for dinner is Kay’s friend, Ted Latimer (Sanjeev Dev). Attending to Lady Tressilian and the other guests is Mary Aldin (Sam David), the housekeeper. I don’t think I would be spoiling things to tell you there is a murder—this is Christie after all—and coming to solve the case are Superintendent Battle (Alan Barnett) from Scotland Yard his nephew and local constable, Inspector Leach (Daniel Schall), and policeman, P. C. Benson (Norman Price).
If you are looking for an entertaining evening and love a good mystery, don’t miss ‘Towards Zero‘ at Laurel Mill Playhouse for an infinitely marvelous time.
The cast all do a fine job keeping us involved in the entanglements, both social and criminal. The plot has many twists and turns, expected in a Christie mystery. Sri as Kay is particularly memorable as the firebrand socialite wife of Nevile, trying to cope with the presence of his former wife, Audrey. Downs is also riveting as Neville caught up in this triangle. The whole cast deserves kudos for presenting a well-done production.
Simmons’ directing keeps us on our toes and his set was so very British. The costumes were nicely done in period, designed by Marge McGugan. Reese is the assistant director who Simmons made a point of thanking before the play began.
If you are looking for an entertaining evening and love a good mystery, don’t miss “Towards Zero” at Laurel Mill Playhouse for an infinitely marvelous time.
Running Time: Two hours and 30 minutes with one intermission.
Advisory: Some mild violence.
“Towards Zero” runs weekends through February 5, 2023 at Laurel Mill Playhouse, 508 Main Street, Laurel, MD 20707. Go to this link for tickets. LMP strongly urges that patrons attending a perfromance to be vaccinated and wear masks.
