...And There Was This One at The REP!

By Mike Logothetis
Theater reviewer Mike Logothetis grew up in North Wilmington, performing in school and local theater productions. He lives in Newark, but you can find him wherever the arts are good.

Adapted for the stage by the “Queen of Crime” herself, this famous Agatha Christie murder mystery deftly weaves suspicion and intrigue to deliver a shocking tale of suspense. The University of Delaware’s Resident Ensemble Players (REP) asks the audience to put on its thinking caps to solve a doozy of a whodunnit and delivers a masterpiece with And Then There Were None..

The REP's production of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None.
Photo by Evan Krape.

Ten strangers gather on a secluded island off the coast of Devon, England on a stormy night. A mysterious host somehow knows everyone’s secrets, but is nowhere to be found. He/she orchestrates the playing a chilling recording accusing each guest of a terrible crime. As time goes by, and characters fall away one-by-one to the rhymes in “Ten Little Soldier Boys,” it is clear that the survivors can trust no one. With no way to escape and a killer among them, tension rises as they attempt to uncover the identity of the murderer before none are left to tell the tale.

Will anyone survive this ultimate passing of judgement? Francis Bacon wrote that “revenge is a kind of wild justice” and that sentiment is personified on the Thompson Theatre stage. The harmony within the acting troupe is palpable from the start, as the characters figure out who to trust and who to suspect. Some players arrive with bombast and confidence, while others are quiet and slightly leery of the situation. It’s a masterful intertwining of stage personalities.

Director Charles Fee keeps the excellent ensemble humming at a tight pace. It’s not too fast to follow and never slows enough to curb the momentum of the thriller. The set design by Rick Martin and Russell Metheny is impressive, somewhat modern, and foreboding. The simple architectural lines don’t convey the twisted plot within the walls. Kudos to Light Designer Cat Wilson and Sound Designer Eileen Smitheimer for quality in their endeavors.

The cast, in alphabetical order, is: Hassan El-Amin (Dr. Armstrong), Patrick Barrett (Fred Naracott), Lee E. Ernst (William Blore), Michael Gotch (Anthony Marston), Elizabeth Heflin (Mrs. Rogers), Mic Matarrese (Philip Lombard), Erin Partin (Vera Claythorne), Stephen Pelinski (Sir Lawrence Wargrave), Kathleen Pirkl Tague (Emily Brent), Steve Tague (Gen. Mackenzie), and M.A. Taylor (Rogers).

The audience was rapt from the get-go, and there were audible gasps and moans when bodies were discovered or certain deaths occurred on stage. The performance I attended rewarded the blood, death, and tears with a deserved standing ovation. 

“Wizard!” – Anthony Marston

Performances of And Then There Were None run Thursdays through Sundays until November 16. Informal cast talkbacks take place following the evening performances on Thursday, November 6 and Friday, November 14. Two “Prologues” occur on Saturday, November 8 and Sunday, November 16. Tickets prices range from $20-43 (+fees) with discounts available for students, seniors, and University of Delaware faculty and staff. 

Tickets can be purchased online at www.rep.udel.edu; by contacting the REP box office at 302.831.2204; or visiting in person at 110 Orchard Road Tuesdays through Fridays from 12:00pm to 5:00pm. Run time is approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes with two 10-minute intermissions. (The time flies by.)

The Thompson Theatre at the Roselle Center for the Arts is located on the University of Delaware’s Newark campus and is ADA-compliant. It is equipped with a hearing loop system, which works with hearing aid t-coils, cochlear implants, and in-house hearing devices. Wheelchair and other seating requests can be made prior to the performance by calling 302.831.2204 or emailing cfa-boxoffice@udel.edu.

Content and Trigger Warnings: This play includes themes and depictions of murder, manslaughter, and suicide. Production Warnings: This production includes gun shots, theatrical fog, and strobe lights.

“Stay thirsty.” – Philip Lombard

The REP Captivates with Stephen King's "Misery"

By Hannah Leposa
Theater fan Hannah Leposa is excited to be living in Wilmington where there is a lively theatre community and high quality performances.

The Resident Ensemble Players present their first show of 2025 with the production of Misery directed by Michael Gotch.

Misery, written by William Goldman, is based on Stephen King's novel of the same name. This psychological thriller follows author Paul Sheldon, portrayed by Mic Matarrese, who is rescued from a car crash and then held captive by his “number one fan,” Annie Wilkes, portrayed by Kathleen Pirkl Tague.

Misery is playing at The REP through March 2.

Everyone involved in this production deserves the highest praise. Everything worked together to make the show feel incredibly genuine —
from the scenic and lighting design to the costumes and special effects (some of which
I am still trying to figure out how they managed to pull off.)

The set looked like it could have been pulled directly from rural Colorado and placed onto the Thompson Theater stage. Every room was impeccably designed, but I particularly enjoyed the intricacies of the living room set's decor. The decision to use a rotating set cannot be faulted, as the rotation at times built upon the suspense being created on stage.

The sound design in this show, done by Ryan
P. McGinty, was almost like another character. The music choices underscored each scene in a way that perfectly highlighted the actors, while also elevating and heightening the emotional effect for the audience. This began from the time the house opened as the ambient sound recording playing peaked my attention and began creating an almost eerie, unsettling feeling, preparing the audience for the mood of the show.

Kathleen Pirkl Tague’s portrayal of Annie Wilkes was sublime. She was an absolute star. Her ability to change demeanor on a hairpin without any foreshadowing left me feeling surprised every time her mood shifted. The nuance in her delivery from the very first line had me enamored. 

Mic Matarrese as Paul Sheldon perfectly balanced Tague as his portrayal evolved from a patient to a man fighting for his freedom. Matarrese had convinced me he was feeling every ounce of pain that his character endured.

Misery runs through March 2. Tickets can be purchased online at www.rep.udel.edu, by calling the Box Office at 302.831.2204 or visiting in person Tuesday through Friday from 12:00-5:00pm. Ticket prices range from $20-$39 with discounts for seniors and students. The show runs two hours including a 15-minute intermission.

Learn more about The REP at www.rep.udel.edu.