Justice is Served (Highview Arts Center)
- stagedoorlouisville
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
And Then There Were None
Written by Agatha Christie
Directed by Joy Beth Dewitt-Riley
By Lan Nguyen-Colgate Entire contents are copyright © 2026 Lan Nguyen-Colgate. All rights reserved.
“Ten little soldier boys went out to dine; one choked his little self and then there were
nine…”
The unsettling nursey rhyme, titled “Ten Little Soldier Boys”, is sung at the beginning of
Highview Arts Center’s (HAC) production of And Then There Were None directed by
Joy Beth Dewitt-Riley. The play is based on the book of the same title, written by Agatha
Christie. Ten guests are brought to a cottage on a secluded island and then left
stranded during a storm. It is revealed that all of them have committed a crime and
escaped justice. One by one, the members are murdered according to a method laid out
in the rhyme.
The set, built by Rachel Allen and John Smothers, is the quaint living room of a country
house. Walls are painted to mimic wallpaper with damask stenciling. Working French
doors open out to a beautiful scene (painted by Hannah DeWitt) depicting a cliffside and
the ocean. Most notably, there is a fireplace with ten little soldier figurines standing on
top the mantle. A minor disappointment is the absence of a gramophone—a significant
item in the beginning of the play.
The play is a long psychological thriller. The first act is largely exposition—most if it is
spent watching characters arrive and make idle conversation. The play’s tone
dramatically shifts when a gramophone recording plays (offstage), and the guests’
crimes are loudly announced before all. Shockingly, one of group falls down dead,
choking after swallowing a drink. Audience members will find themselves locked in just
as the act closes.
Act Two is much stronger with the murder mystery in full swing. Suspicions arise as the
guests realize one of them is the murderer. The story still feels like a waiting game with
the audience counting down until the next death occurs. With so many characters, not
all are fully developed before they are “offed”. As a result, several actors are only able
to give a surface-level portrayal of their character.
Throughout the second act tensions grow; paranoia begins to run unchecked. The
characters start to psychologically break down. It is then that the remaining actors are able to show their range. When the numbers are reduced to half, the audience is given opportunity to delve into characters’ past motivations and actions. When the cast is narrowed to three, it feels all the air has been sucked from the room.
Ron Blair as retired judge, Lawrence Walgrave, exerts total control over his emotions
and severely scrutinizes the others. Michael Breeding portrays the nervous Dr.
Armstrong who unravels quickly. Hannah Blackmore as William Blore is simultaneously confident and conflicted. Chance Haynes plays Phillip Lombard with a rakish charm and
bravado. Mimi Housewright spectacularly portrays Vera Claythorne—her loss of self-
control is gradual. Her mind erodes at the death of each person, her own regrets and
remorse amplified.
And Then There Were None explores how justice is defined and pursued. Many
whodunnit fans will be pleased by how the murderer is cleverly concealed throughout
the play. And even readers of the original novel, will find themselves swept up in the
drama. To anyone unfamiliar with the story, the final revelation should come as a
surprise. However, this production has the potential for two different endings. Each night
at the flip of coin, the actors will either perform the 1943 play’s happy ending or the
1939 book’s dark ending. Under DeWitt-Riley’s direction, the audience is treated to a
unique murder mystery proving why Christie is considered queen of the genre.
And Then There Were None Highview Arts Center
September 4, 5, 6, 7 & 11, 12, 13
7406 Fegenbush Ln.
Louisville, KY 40228
(502) 783-6609
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