The Cast Photo by T. Charles Erickson

Welcome, then, to a country house somewhere in England. It is 1926 and set designer Charlie Corcoran's interior, which features rounded archways, plush looking sofas, requisite fireplace and chandelier, and bookcases to the rear, is nothing short of handsome. Anyone would love to live in this estate and it belongs to Roger Ackroyd (Mark Silence), who has invited people to dinner. Dr. James Sheppard (John Rapson) is there and he frequently provides narrative to keep everyone aware of storyline. Caroline (Erin Noel Grennan) is his sister and she discusses, with her brother, that Mrs. Ferrars (referred to only) took her own life after doing away with her husband.

Gertrude Ackroyd (Karen Ziemba) is Roger's sister-in-law, and her attractive daughter Flora (Shereen Ahmed) is at the manor for dinner, too. So are Major Henry Blunt (Richard R. Henry) and Helen Russell (Nicole Shalhoub), Roger's assistant at the house. Ursula Bourne (Katy Tang) is a housekeeper while Parker (Tom Hewitt) is an aristocratic-looking butler who hasn't all that much dialogue but it becomes pivotal.

Without divulging what must be discovered in person, suffice to say that, soon enough, deceased Roger Ackroyd sits in a writing room chair with a dagger sticking out of his back. Ralph Paton (Joe Delafield) becomes the primary suspect and Inspector Raglan (Allen Gilmore) is instantly on the case. Hercule Poirot (Anthony Cochrane), appears some 35 or 40 minutes into the first act and he certainly will ascertain just who slew Roger Ackroyd.

There's a delectable vignette just before intermission: a small boathouse occasion at the foot of the stage, complete with several visible blades of grass. It's such a treat.

Poirot begins the second act with a short, telling speech, and the dozen actors then appear on Shanahan's neatly balanced stage. Poirot is now a focal character. Gertrude Ackroyd, a sideshow unto herself, has splendid dialogue which she delivers with great ostentation and audacity. If Poirot takes his task seriously, one could argue that Gertrude is around to make certain the effort to solve the killing never becomes all consuming.

The cast is cumulatively impressive and director Shanahan leaves nothing to chance. Anthony Cochrane, as Poirot, stays within his character as he avoids over embellishment. This is the actor's debut at Westport Country Playhouse and he brings significant credits from Broadway and Off-Broadway, at well-regarded regional theatre companies, and on multiple TV series. Karen Ziemba (Gertrude) scored Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards when she appeared in Contact at Lincoln Center, and has received other honors.

Shanahan's ensemble is exceptional and here is but one example: Tom Hewitt carries off the minor but still significant role of Parker, the butler, with aplomb. As a younger actor, he took the title role in Tadashi Suzuki's The Tale of Lear, which was presented at StageWest, in Springfield, Massachusetts. Hewitt (who studied with Suzuki for ten years) continued with regional work before moving along to take roles 13 times on Broadway as he appeared in Hadestown, Chicago, >I>The Lion King, Jesus Christ Superstar, and The Rocky Horror Show, for which he received Tony and Drama Desk nominations.

Someone's been left out: never should one neglect the sensational Agatha Christie! She was the author of 66 novels and she provides the enduring source material for Mark Shanahan's live stage achievement.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd runs through August 1, 2026, at Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Ct., Westport CT. For tickets and information, please call 203-227-4177 or visit westportplayhouse.org.