• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

HUNTINGTON -- Imagine an island.

And on that foggy island, a Victorian mansion filled with a flock of house guests -- all strangers.

Imagine every last one of these strangers has dark secrets in his or her past that have floated to the surface -- each have caused someone's death.

Now imagine that these guests and even the hosts begin dying off one at a time.

Like "Lost" set in an elegant Victorian living room, Agatha Christie's island murder mystery "And Then There Were None" swirls with suspense, checkered pasts and the stench of evil on the loose and present.

Fifth Avenue Theatre Company's production of Agatha Christie's murder mystery "And Then There Were None" begins its first weekend run tonight at 8 p.m. at the Jean Carlo Stephenson Auditorium on the second floor of Huntington City Hall, 800 5th Ave.

Featuring veteran actor and director Clint McElroy at the helm this oft hilarious and plot-turning who-done-it, the show also takes place at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, as well as 8 p.m. Oct. 24 and 25 and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 26.

Admission is $12 or $10 for children 12 and under.

McElroy said it's a great play to do since it was adapted to the stage by Christie, whose more than 80 detective novels are second in sales only to the Bible.

"She saw one of her novels adapted into a play and hated it, so she said I will adapt myself and this is what is so great about Agatha Christie," McElroy said. "It's chock-ful of these characters and situations from a classic who-done-it, and since it is Agatha Christie, nothing is as it appears. While the form has been copied thousands of times, the real genius that was Christie has not been."

Using a superb set of a posh, spacious living room designed by University of Oklahoma theater graduate Travis McElroy, "And Then There Were None," revolves constantly with "boatloads of guests" coming into the island retreat, drinking and talking, and more often than not, talking themselves into a web of revealing lies.

The cast of about a dozen is stacked with local theater veterans such as Linda Reynolds, Jane Modlin, Mark Near, Paul Neace, Dwight Slappe, Michael Beck, Stephen Vance, Cindy Stowers, and not one, not two, but all three McElroy sons -- Justin, Travis and Griffin.

Reynolds, whose maid character rightly states that "she doesn't like any of them much," said it's Christie's constant twists that keep the audience in suspense.

"I like the layering of it," Reynolds said. "I love how she misdirects you. She's about like a magician with sleight of hand. She's telling you to look over here when the action is really happening over there."

Justin McElroy, who graduated from Marshall in theater, said he thinks Travis' set helps accentuate the story's twists that occur before your eyes.

"The set gives you a sense of almost claustrophobia with all of these characters and all of these little stories happening," he said.

Clint McElroy said that indeed if one pays attention, it is possible to figure out who the killer is.

However, for those lacking in the detective department, there will be sealed envelopes with clues that will be available for a $1 donation at the end of the show.

"Even though the play is 70-years-old, I challenge anybody to figure it out with all the turns and all of the red herrings," Clint McElroy said. "There are clues, and the clues are right here in front of you like 'Lost.' The clues are right there if you ferret them out."

Maxine Loudermilk, executive director of the City of Huntington Foundation, the non-profit that oversees Fifth Avenue Theatre Company, said folks coming to the show will notice a new sound system.

The foundation received a $10,000 grant from the West Virginia Legislature to pay for a new sound system for the Jean Carlo Stephenson Auditorium.

As is the case with all Fifth Avenue productions, proceeds get poured back into the City of Huntington Foundation, which has a plethora of community projects under its wing from restoration of the auditorium to the Adopt-Your-Block program, the Huntington Police Department's Crimestoppers Program and other revitalization efforts in the city.

"Our mission is to do whatever we can to promote the city of Huntington, and with that wide of a mission, we can get involved, and want to get involved, in a lot of good projects," Loudermilk said. "People who want to donate to the betterment and beautification of the city can donate to us."

Jeremy McKnight/For The Herald-Dispatch

Justin McElroy, at left, and Griffin McElroy reherse the performance of "Then There Were None" at the Jean Carlo Stephenson Auditorium on Monday October 13, 2008.

Purchase this photo

Jeremy McKnight/For The Herald-Dispatch

The cast of "Then There Were None" at the Jean Carlo Stephenson Auditorium on Monday October 13, 2008.

Purchase this photo

Jeremy McKnight/For The Herald-Dispatch

Michael Beck plays Rogers during rehearsal in "Then There Were None" at the Jean Carlo Stephenson Auditorium on Monday October 13, 2008.

Purchase this photo

Jeremy McKnight/For The Herald-Dispatch

Jane Modlin plays the part of Emily during a rehearsal of "Then There Were None" at the Jean Carlo Stephenson Auditorium on Monday October 13, 2008.

Purchase this photo

Jeremy McKnight/For The Herald-Dispatch

More photos of the cast of "Then There Were None" at the Jean Carlo Stephenson Auditorium on Monday October 13, 2008.

Purchase this photo