Easily one of the best shows to be performed on the Yorkshire stage, Murder on the Orient Express, by Tony-nominated playwright Ken Ludwig contains an elaborate set and a talented cast of colorful characters. From the moment you lay eyes on the stage, you feel a thrill of excitement at the thought of a dark tale unfolding on such a quaint, elegant scene. Three train compartments with cherry red walls, wood paneling, and sliding doors sit upstage on a raised platform. Below are tables and chairs that serve as both cafe and dining car. Snow-covered windows line the compartment’s adjoining hallway, and a view of the train’s caboose balcony is set stage left. Seen as a whole, it’s as if the stage itself lies under a mask of calm, keeping secret what will occur with a classy 1930’s guise.
