Agatha Christie’s The BBC Murders at the Parker Playhouse

Agatha Christie’s The BBC Murders will be coming to Parker Playhouse on January 15 for a limited three week run. The BBC Murders include four Agatha Christie classics: Butter In A Lordly Dish, Three Blind Mice, Personal Call and Yellow Iris...

Agatha Christie’s The BBC Murders will be coming to Parker Playhouse on January 15 for a limited three week run. The BBC Murders include four Agatha Christie classics: Butter In A Lordly Dish, Three Blind Mice, Personal Call and Yellow Iris.

 The BBC Murders were initially part of a BBC Mystery Series just before and after World War II. The manuscripts were lost for more than 50 years due to the London Blitz and post-war reconstruction.

Mathew Prichard, grandson of Dame Agatha and President of the vast Agatha Christie Estate, when contacted by Buffman about staging the lost murders in the U.S., received the following response: “I am delighted that Zev’s team is putting together my grandmother’s wonderful BBC plays, which number some of her best works. I am sure that the USA live audience will enjoy them enormously” – and so they did! This production includes four American-premiere Agatha Christie plays that are fully staged (unlike the “old” rigid BBC radio days). Actors are closely involved with the audience as they work on a 1930s-1940s BBC studio-style set aided by lavish period costumes, props, and multiple moving screens and projections furnished by Jere Harris’ PRG. The two Foley (sound effect) artists provide an extra source of nostalgia and laughter, often becoming the audience’s favorite characters. The “Wallas” (many live stage extras), help create the crowd atmosphere for the numerous fast-moving locations. A new score by Rupert Holmes, a cabaret band, and vocalists enhance the action as Inspector Poirot attempts to solve a murder.

 Butter in a Lordly Dish was first performed by the BBC on January 13, 1948 in a series entitled Mystery Playhouse Presents, The Detection Club. The play title comes from the Bible: Judges, 5:25: “He asked for water and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.” Christie’s drama follows a lawyer’s relationship with a mysterious woman he meets while convicting a man for a series of vicious murders.

In Three Blind Mice, a snowstorm and a psychotic killer on the loose have a cast of characters locked in a guest house full of accusations and anxiety. The catchy childhood rhyme Three Blind Mice plays a murderous tune in this thriller. Personal Call mixes a strong drink of delicious deception into a haunting story of lies and betrayal.. This never-published thriller was Christie’s final play for the BBC and reuses the character of Inspector Narracott from the 1931 novel The Sittaford Mystery. Yellow Iris was first presented on the BBC National Program in 1937. It features the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, one of Christie’s audiences’ favorite characters.

 Agatha Christie’s The BBC Murders will begin on Tuesday, January 15 through Sunday, February 3. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8pm and Sundays at 7:30pm. Matinee performances are all Saturdays and Sundays and Wednesday January 23 and Wednesday January 30 at 2pm. Tickets are $26.50 – $66.50 and are now on sale at the Broward Center Box Office Monday through Friday 10 am – 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday 12 Noon – 5 pm and 1 ½ hours prior to show times; or on-line at BrowardCenter.org; by phone 954-462-0222. Groups of 10+ are invited to call 954-626-7814 or 954-462-0222.