T-R PHOTO BY SARA JORDAN-HEINTZ The Marshalltown Community Theatre’s presentation of “Murder on the Nile” opens Friday at the Martha-Ellen Tye Playhouse. Pictured are some of the show’s stars, Hobz Hooley as Canon Pennefather and Amy Haney as Jacqueline de Severac.

Suspense. Deception. Denial. These are the thrills to be had at the Marshalltown Community Theatre’s presentation of “Murder on the Nile,” which opens Friday at the Martha-Ellen Tye Playhouse.

Director Bill Roberts said he was eager to put this show on, as stories by Agatha Christie are usually a hit with audiences.

“I really like her writing. She’s a genius at weaving a plot and keeping a secret until the end,” he said. “She also throws in some good humor. We had good audience participation with the other two Agatha Christie plays I’ve directed here — ‘And Then There Were None’ and ‘The Unexpected Guest’.”

“Murder on the Nile” is a 1944 murder mystery play written by Christie, based on her 1937 novel “Death on the Nile.” The star-studded motion picture “Death on the Nile” was released in 1978.

“I’ve not seen the film because I don’t like to see movie adaptations. I don’t like to be tainted,” Roberts said. “My ideas, having read the play, and throwing in something a little different, is how I interpret it.”

With a cast of 14, Roberts said it takes a great deal of coordinating to make sure scenes run smoothly. The cast is a mix of adults new to the theatre, middle-schoolers and veteran actors.

“It’s quite a developed plot. The show is about a 2-1/2-hour play with an intermission between Act I and Act II,” Roberts said. “It is a three-act play.”

The cast consists of: Hobz Hooley, Amy Haney, Jason Vajgrt, Regan Kerwood, Rocio Villagomez, Katie Lyons, Lily Larsen, Casey Cook, Regina Gill, Abbey Riley, Garrett McKibbin, Michael Gill, Averi Bolar and Warren Riley.

Performances were pushed back a week due to inclement weather. Showtimes are March 1, 2, 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m. and March 3 and 10 at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $10 for students and kids 5 and under are $5. The play is classified as family-friendly. The box office is open daily from noon to 2 p.m., and one hour before each show. It may be reached at 641-752-4164.

To learn more, visit the Marshalltown Community Theatre’s Facebook page.

——–

Contact Sara Jordan-Heintz at

641-753-6611 or

sjordan@timesrepublican.com