The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1961-07-27
Review of The Play
"Ten Little Indians"

Mystery, intrigue and suspense
sum up pretty well the show of
the week at the Garrett County
Playhouse. Ten Little Indians. -
one of Agatha Christie's best
known plays, gives the audience
an entirely different pace from the
usual bill of fare Originally seri-
allied in the Saturday Evening
Post as And Then There We're
None. it enjoyed a successful run
a few years ago on the New York
and London stage.
When the first act begins 70
unfold there are eight guests, each
unknown to the other, who have
been mysteriously invited TO a
party at the home of an eccentric
who lives on an island off the
coast of Devon. The first time sus-
pense grips the audience is when
the eerie, disembodied voice of
the capricious gent accuses each
of the guests and the two servants
of a horrible murder The shock is
too great for all of them From the
untimely death of guest, Anthony
Marston, played extremely well by
Phil Jones, a guest actor, until
the last gruesome demise Of
well, if we told you the last char
acter you would know the surprise
ending. incidentally, there are two
different BINDINGS to the play.
please do not reveal the ending
of the play to anyone 1t is here
where much of the suspense lies)
Death comes as each little In
dian figurine on the mantel dis
appears. It is the old familiar
nursery rhyme re-told in a most
unusual manner A record crowd
was on hand opening night, an in
dication of the acceptance of the
Playhouse by the community. 1t
is also tribute to the capable di-
rection of Tom Calkins, and 20
producer Gene Yell, and to the
entire company undoubtedly one
of the best groups in the seven
years of the existence of the
theatcr.
Every single member of the
large cast does an outstanding job.
We must especially commend
James Evering who played Dr.
Armstrong, invited to the weird
country place on the prctext of
attending the owners i'll wife. He
had more on his hands than he
bargained for. Bob Baca. the
technical director of the Playhouse,
and who is being seen in his sec
ond show of the season, is cast in
the role of retired General Me
Kenzie, also a guest who has
sinister background Evering con-
veys to the audience his great
versatility in the handling of this
role Marie Nelson, stage manager
for this summers productions, and
one of the early victims of the
macabre plot, is we'll cast in the
role of the servant. Mrs. Rogers.
Her counterpart, and husband in
Indians, is well done by Alan
Marshall. Marshall has already
established himself with Playhouse
audiences
Nancy Gottburg, playing Vera
Claythorne, is at her very best IN
the current production. She shows
a great depth and sensitivity to
the role of a woman who is both
suspicious and suspect.
1t is always a pleasure to see
Mary Ann Craig at work at the
Playhouse. She meets her end via
the bee" as predicted in the
rhyme of the Ten Little Indians.
Neil Flanagan plays the detective,
Stuffy Davis, who is not above
falling afoul of the law His inter-
probation is done with great feel
ing and sympathy. Glenn Lyons,
one of our local talents, is seen
this week as Fred Narracott, and
seems to know all the signals. AL
though he is seen only at the