A murder mystery with a twist

Few know that the 1965 film, Gumnaam, starring Manoj Kumar, Nanda, Helen, Prem and Mehmood, which is known for its haunting title track Gumnaam Hai Koi, was based on Agatha Christie’s famous novel And Then There Were None. Over the years, the bestseller, which was published in 1939, has spawned many translations in several languages and adaptations for cinema and the stage. In fact, Christie herself had penned the novel’s variant into a play. Now, a Mumbai and a Delhi-based theatre company have come together to present their production, which is by the same name as the book. 

Helmed by actor-director Laura Mishra, it features a host of young artistes including Abhishek Chakraborty, Barkha Swaroop Saxena, Mustafa Lightwalla, Navin Talreja, Prerna Talwar, Sonu Anand and Tanmay Ranjan.

The story revolves around a group of 10 strangers who are lured to an island mansion off the Devon coast in United Kingdom. Over dinner, an unseen voice accuses each of them of harbouring a guilty secret, and by the end of the evening, one of their members is dead. When their host fails to appear, and the weather changes, the island becomes a sinister and claustrophobic place to be stranded.

Haunted by an ancient nursery rhyme, they all realise that the murderer is not only among them but is preparing to strike again. The tension escalates as the survivors try to be one step ahead of their ingenious stalker, who seems bent on eliminating all of them one by one. Who is the murderer and what’s the purpose of the killings forms the crux of the plot.

Talking about what prompted her to adapt the play, Laura says, “I’m a huge Agatha Christie fan. I love her work. She is the one of the best crime writers ever. She gets certain nuances correct that other writers somehow miss. I had read this play as a kid and found it extremely intriguing. So, when I got an opportunity, I decided to direct it.” She admits that though she has stayed true to her story, the ending is a tad different as it’s taken from one of Christie’s other works.

Also, rather than setting it in the late 1930s, Laura has changed it to 1950. She explains, “It was much easier for us to source the outfits and accessories and recreate the look of the characters in the 1950s milieu. While the female characters sport the classic winged eyeliner and bright red lips, the male actors are seen in baggy pants, sport coats and well-cut suits.” Laura also ensured that her cast members don’t fake a British accent.

Quiz her about what was the biggest challenge and Laura, who is also acting in the play, says, “It was a tough task to understand the psyche of people who stay in secluded areas. We are no longer used to being alone due to the advent of technology. Isolation is an important theme of this story.” 

And Then There Were None will be staged on March 10 at 7.30 pm at 
St Andrews Auditorium, Bandra West.