Craving a good murder mystery?

And Then There Were None

By Agatha Christie

Performed at Portsmouth Little Theatre – Portsmouth, Ohio

Dates: Sept 26, 27, Oct 3, 4, 2025

Quick Take

The OG, in my opinion, of hometown theatre with the brilliance of talent found hiding in a small town. The show was delightfully suspenseful with twists and turns to keep you guessing, “Who done it?”

The Story (No Spoilers)

Ten strangers are mysteriously invited to an island. These strangers are not saints by any means, each with a different sordid story of their past. What they don’t know is why they are there and what is about to come. And then, with no warning, one of the strangers is dead. Is it a murder? Is it a suicide? The crew of questionable characters spend their time mulling over what has just occurred. Then another – dead. At this point, the weather has turned and there is no way on or off the island. They are stuck there, all together, waiting for the next victim. One by one the unknown murder is picking them off, playing with their minds. A sick and twisted play on a nursery rhyme hanging from the wall, they discover that each death is predicted. So they wait. Who will be next and who is responsible?

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The Performances

It is quite difficult to take the Appalachia out of an Appalachian, but there were several actors here that did a “bang up” job with their British accents. Notably, Erin Ballangee, who plays the role of Mrs. Rogers in the play, did a fantastic job transforming into a cogney, working-class maid. Another actor who delivered a genuine British accent was Denver “Alex” Davis, in the role of Lombard.

The on stage chemistry between Lombard (Davis) and Vera Claythorne (Pam Klinepeter) was natural and playful. The two really made you believe they were playing a back and forth game of hard to get to win one another’s affections.

One actor, in particular, stood out to me. Cody Phillips who played the role of Marston, was effortless in conveying his depiction of the character. From his Cast Biography, it appears he has very few credits to list; however, he glides across the stage as a seasoned actor.

A new-comer to the PLT stage is Katie Cochran. She delivers a performance that is powerful, and commands the stage in each of her appearances.

The performance given by Drea Perkins, who has just made a return to the stage after 10-years, delivered the comic relief for the play with spot on timing and expressions to make you laugh even in serious situations.

Direction, Design & Technical Elements

Marlow Award Winning Director Kelli Riffe, who also serves as the PLT Board President, has left no detail to question. The first act was quite long (1.5 hrs) but the details covered were essential to the action ahead. The characters are established here. We get a sense of their personalities and how they will all interact with one another. With such a chunky script, it is difficult to compress the dialogue into a small package. But trust me, you will want to see the second act. This is where all the pieces fall into place. The second act is full of surprises! This is where some of the actors really shine! Curtains up was 7:30 pm, and with intermission included, the bows began at 10:15 pm with roars from the audience for a fantastic performance!

Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None is set in the 1940’s. The set and props were on point for the time period. It is notable that many set pieces were on loan from Unique Antiques in Portsmouth, a local antiques store. Expert selection was shown by the chosen pieces for the set. The set was beautiful with rich colors. The actors were heard clearly and all boasted great projection from the stage.

The costumes were period appropriate and blended well with the scene. It is my understanding that some of the actors purchased their own costume pieces, which isn’t unheard of in a small theatre. In my opinion, best dressed was Pam Klinepeter. She lit up the stage with every appearance.

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The Experience

The audience was alive the night of my attendance! The first Saturday of a show seems to be the ideal night for theatre goers everywhere. Holly Gail, PLT Board Vice President, really got the audience engaged and ready for a great show. Don’t sleep on those ticket purchases. Every night and every seat has a different perspective to offer the viewer. Better yet, seeing a show multiple times offers a new experience each time. This is one of those shows that I suggest seeing more than once. I happened to buy season tickets this past summer (July 2025). I was seated at Row B, Seat 9 and had a perfect view of the show. I imagine the earlier you purchase your tickets, the closer you will be to the stage. But this is just a guess. Honestly, there is no way to get a “bad” seat at PLT. The theatre being small and the design of the house places each person at the perfect eyelevel view of the stage.

The theatre facade has had a facelift in recent years. The entrance is grand with beautiful doors flanked by the comedy and tragedy mask on either side. I was greeted by the sweetest young volunteer. I didn’t catch her name but her face is familiar from the latest show of last seasons, M.A.S.H. Ticket check in is seamless. Ticket holders can walk directly in, check in at the desk, grab your program and seat assignment, and go. Get your tickets early on to ensure you don’t miss out on the opportunity to see the talent of the area at its finest.

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Final Thoughts

• Inviting, warm, and inclusive atmosphere.
• Amazing new talent.
• Truly entertaining story.
• May not be suitable for some due to potentially triggering content including murder and suicide.

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The Fifth Row Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5

“Every seat has a story—and in this performance, I was kept guessing at every turn! Well played!”