“Mrs. Christie” ( Milwaukee) reviewed by Amy Menzel

****Turns out, famed writer Agatha Christie once went missing for 11 days. I did not know that. But this little nugget of literary lore is the inspiration for Mrs. Christie, a play that toggles between time and gives audiences a glimpse of what may have happened to Christie as a contemporary avid-reader-turned-amatuer-sleuth tries to crack the case.

Playwright (and Wisconsin native) Heidi Armbruster says, “There’s something incredibly unifying about a good mystery,” and the proof was in the Checota Powerhouse Theater Sunday afternoon. It was nearly a full house, and a receptive one at that. Mrs. Christie has plenty of clever lines that provoke audible reactions from the audience, and a talented cast delivers them quite skillfully in this production. The afternoon was as enjoyable as it was captivating for all in attendance.

Alex Keiper embraces nuance in her portrayal of Christie. The author’s talent, heart, wit, and wisdom are on full display. In fact, such complexities are magnified when mirrored by the character of Lucy, one of her modern-day fans. Zoë Sophia Garcia brings this spunky yet struggling woman to life on the stage, and Lucy’s energy (and sometimes frustration) drive the story. She’s got some help, though, in the form of the formidable Jane, an older woman who only seems content to focus on her knitting early on. We soon find out that Jane is not only ready, but eager for an adventure. Dale Hodges plays this clever character to perfection.

The journey in Mrs. Christie is one of self-discovery. It spans across time and requires the insight and influence of many along the way, for which journeys of self-discovery are prone. This entertaining tale is made even more so by vivid scenic design (Se Hyun Oh), lighting (Keith Parham) and sound (Thomas Dixon).

Because I love a good partnership, I should also mention that Mrs. Christie is co-produced with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and directed by Associate Artistic Director, Joanie Schultz.

If you’re looking for a fun outing to the theater, this is it!

★★★★

Mrs. Christie runs through May 10.

Wednesday-Friday – 7:30 p.m. (+ Wednesday, 4/29 and Wednesday, 5/6 @ 1:30 p.m.)
Saturday – 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sunday – 2 p.m.

Special Dates include:
– Talkbacks, following the performances on Thursday, April 23 and Thursday, May 7
– Early-Bird Performance: Tuesday, April 21 @ 6:30 p.m.
– Audio-Described Performance: Tuesday, April 21 @ 6:30 p.m.
– ASL Performance: Friday, May 8 @ 7:30 p.m.
– Open-Captioned Performances on Thursday, April 23 @ 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 29 @ 1:30 p.m., and Sunday, May 10 @ 2 p.m.

Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at https://www.milwaukeerep.com/.

Can’t get enough of Christie? Check out more events in The Milwaukee Rep’s Agatha Christie Festival lineup, running now through June: www.milwaukeerep.com/202526/agatha-christie-festival/

And mark your calendar for The Rep’s run of Of  “Then There Were None” , coming May 26 and running through June 28.