The Waynesburg University fall play is right around the corner and the Waynesburg University  Players have been working hard preparing for a show that will impress the 2021 audiences. 

“And Then There Were None,” is a play written by Agatha Christie, which first began as an award-winning novel. In 1955, Christie was the first recipient of the Mystery Writers of America’s highest honor, The Grand Master Award, according to litlovers.com. 

The play centers around 10 characters who are invited to a party on an island house, and one guest ends up dead. The remaining guests then must figure out “whodunnit” before they are able to leave the party. Members of the cast are expecting an audience that is eager for this performance as a result of reading Christie’s novel. However, the ending has been described as ambiguous. 

This performance will be unique compared to its written counterpart because the ending does not fall the same. Attendees will not be expecting what this performance entails. In addition to the surprises, the audience will get to become mystery solvers themselves. 

As the plot unfolds, the audience could be asking themselves: Is there someone lurking in the shadows? Is the killer one of the guests? What is going to happen next? 

Professor Edward L. Powers, Director of the theater program, explains, “This type of play is always a crowd pleaser.” He said, “And the actors seem to be having a good time with it.” 

One of these actors is Diamond Price, a senior entertainment arts management major. Price explains that Professor Powers has previously opened the rehearsals up to students taking his theater classes, and the cast is always asking the students who they think the culprit is. It seems to be making the cast very excited to see the entire performance unravel. 

With this being Price’s fifth play here at Waynesburg University, she looks back on the experiences she has had on the stage. 

“It’s rare for me as an actress to portray mostly the same role.” she said. “I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to challenge myself every single time with a new role and a new character.” 

She feels that this role is the most challenging for her thus far, because it challenges her physically, emotionally and intellectually. 

She is looking forward to making this performance something she is very proud of. 

Powers tells us that he has really enjoyed getting to work with veteran actors, and that it’s also nice to have new people. The cast has a few unfamiliar faces gracing the stage this fall, including a few freshmen and sophomores. Powers expressed his gratitude towards the whole cast. 

“I appreciate the work they do put into the show. And it does take a lot of hours,” he said. “When the cast members are here, they are working. They are trying to make the show better… And I am pleased. I am seeing great strides from when we started, roughly five weeks ago.” 

“And Then There Were None,” will be premiering in the Goodwin Performing Arts Center on Nov. 3 through Nov. 6, with all shows starting at 7:30 p.m. Admissions tickets will be $3 for students with a Waynesburg Identification and $5 for a general admissions ticket. Tickets can also be purchased online at waynesburg.ticketleap.com/none.

The cast encourages the Waynesburg community to come out and see the hard work they dedicated to this performance. “It’s going to be really fun to have that interactive experience and to figure out for yourself who you think the murderer is,” Price said.

Powers said this performance is one you won’t want to miss.