playbill vip

Director’s Note

Agatha Christie is a well-known author to many of us who are more than thirty years old. Even if we didn’t read her mysteries growing up, someone we know--our parents, grandparents, teachers, uncles or aunts--did, and we came to associate Agatha Christie’s name with a masterful mystery story:  one involving inexplicable intrigue, mystifying murder, and dexterous detective work. Trusting in Christie’s ability to engage and entertain both the audience and the actors alike, I was drawn to her 1934 play The Stranger in part for its intertwining themes from the One Thousand and One Arabian Nights as well as the Grimm brothers’ fairytale of “Bluebeard.” Both of these works of literature hauntingly capture one’s imagination and make one question what one would do in a situation similar to that which the women in each story find themselves. Thus, Enid in The Stranger is drawn to wonder whether she could ever improvise a tale to save her life, if her life depended on her doing so. Do we, like Mrs. Huggins, believe in the power of the imagination, even in the face of what seem to be appallingly impossible circumstances? Or do we, like Enid, doubt the power of the average person to commandeer a paralyzingly frightful situation?

The cast of The Stranger immediately embraced their roles, each developing the persona of his or her character in remarkably perceptive ways that were delightful to witness through the many weeks of rehearsals. I feel that I know these characters as real people and will think and wonder about them, and even miss them, when the play is done. These students approached performing The Stranger with exemplary commitment and diligence, coming to each rehearsal with something better each day, and making it a pleasure to work with them.

The crew was just as sure and conscientious as they worked confidently and steadily to create an environment that would make the play enjoyable and authentic in its delivery. I deeply respect and appreciate their consistent dedication, hard work, and positivity in their work with me and the cast.

A sincere thanks to all of the parents, for their supporting the cast and me through the weeks of rehearsals and in preparation for the performances.

Finally, a most special thank you to Julie King for her extraordinary and tireless work on publicity for the play.

Kate Eddy

Elizabeth Neunzig '20, Jake Diller '20, Connor Richardson '18