Cappies: Holy Trinity Catholic High School presents And Then There Were None

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Show #3: And Then There Were None

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Holy Trinity Catholic High School

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Director: Stavros Sakiadis

Katie Saunders
Critic, St. Francis Xavier High School

Ten strangers, alone on a deserted island — all being accused of murder, what could possibly go wrong? Holy Trinity Catholic High School took your breath away with their production of And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie.

This murder mystery is a theatrical adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel And Then There Were None. Set in the 1940s, ten high-class strangers get invited to a secluded island by an unknown host. All of the guests, connected by their immoral pasts, arrive at the island for different reasons, not expecting to be brutally murdered one at a time following the lines of a child’s nursery rhyme. This play highlights the guests’ struggle to work together to find their killer before it’s too late, all while discovering more and more about each other in doing so.

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Each member of this eleven-person cast delivered a suspenseful, well- rounded performance that was nothing short of jaw-dropping. Whether it was through compelling vocal expressions, accents that fit the era, or tasteful physicality, these actors were a joy to see perform. The emotional aspects of this piece were beautifully and hauntingly captured. The ten party guests worked extremely cohesively while still staying true to their own personal characterization, specifically through panicked moments. This impeccably chosen cast completely and honestly proved that there are no small parts in theatre.

Sara Whitley set this piece in motion in her role of Vera Claythorne. Whitley’s moving facial and vocal expressions were astounding to watch, helping her to fall into her character effortlessly and gracefully. Whitley’s performance added a more empathetic, emotional stance to this story, setting her apart. Whether through believable hysteria, excellent projection, or her embodiment of the powerful tone of the show, Whitley made her character’s intentions very clear. In her role of Justice Lawrence Wargrave, Florence Cole provided an expressive, shocking performance through a maniacal voice and fitting facial expressions. Cole’s use of the stage added depth and interest to the execution of her character, and made this show all the more riveting to watch.

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Joshua Walmsley added an amazing dynamic to this piece in his role of Philip Lombard. Walmsley added a sense of passion to his character, and effortlessly played off of other actors, as seen in his amorous banter with Sara Whitley. His performance was well characterized, with incredible physicality to go along with his lines. Alésia Tardif tapped into her role of Emily Brent through great projection and vocal inflections.

The props, hair, and makeup allowed the production team to shine. The props were well chosen, and went well with the set. They added practicality and a lovely aesthetic to the 1940s style of this piece. The makeup and hair was also very detail oriented and fit the time period nicely. Each individual look fit the characters very well and made their expressions pop onstage through bright colours and harsh styles.

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The committed, animated cast of Holy Trinity Catholic High School’s And Then There Were None produced a performance that was scarily compelling. Each actor delivered authenticity, raw emotion, and intense mystery. This show proved that there are heinous truths behind innocent facades, especially when murder is the consequence.

Madison Sonnenburg
Critic, Almonte and District High School

What do you do when a person you have known for no more than a day dies in front of your eyes? What happens when someone you trusted betrays you? The cast of And Then There Were None presented by Holy Trinity Catholic High School delves into these tense situations in their gripping performance of the classic mystery filled with surprises and death.

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Originally written by Agatha Christie as a novel of the same name in 1939, this murder mystery was rewritten for the stage in 1943. The play follows ten people, eight guests and two staff members, all with a dark past, who were invited to a small island, just off the coast of Devon, by the same unknown person. One by one, the guests are killed mysteriously, and the remaining group must discover which of them is the culprit.

With such an action-filled and intense show as this one, the actors did a great job of maintaining their energy and making use of the stage. They used their props in a convincing and useful way, creating a subtle storyline with just their actions. The use of their set made it even more convincing and proved that sometimes actions speak louder than words.

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Florence Cole and Sara Whitley who played Justice Lawrence Wargrave and Vera Claythorne respectively, created an immensely engaging and tense scene. Florence used her stage presence in the best way possible, always moving around the stage and interacting with her fellow actors. She acted in a way that showed off the true professionalism of her character and her voice was clear and precise, making it easy to understand her, and follow what her character was saying. Sara had a captivating air and had a believable performance throughout the entire show. She used both her words and her actions to accurately convey the emotions Vera felt. Each time she spoke, the sheer humanity of Vera was visible and made her a character to root for.

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The other actors added tension and creativity to the performance as they fell into their characters well and allowed for a realistic and convincing demonstration of the play. They all used the space they had in an enticing way, and each actor created their own impact. Joshua Walmsley who played Philip Lombard grabbed the attention of everyone with his clear voice and fluid movements, marking his character as a pivotal part of the play. Nadine Rizk, who played Dr. Armstrong, portrayed the emotions of her character in an authentic way and created an air of tension with her actions.

Zero Nuhn-Trevethan operated the lights in a tasteful way, timing the blackouts wonderfully. Victoria Seto Acevedo used sound to set the scene by timing the music and sound effects well. The hair and makeup suited the characters with some graying of the hair, and colour schemes that fit their personalities.

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Holy Trinity Catholic High School did a wonderful job of demonstrating the importance of high school theatre to the community. The cast performed this rendition of the play beautifully and showed just how much “ten little soldier boys” can impact so many other people.

Zoe Whitlock
Lead Critic, Colonel By Secondary School

The students of Holy Trinity Catholic High School put on a terrifying performance of And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie. A shocking tale of death, guilt and murder, And Then There Were None tells the story of ten characters lured to an abandoned island with a mysterious host in southern England. The characters are killed off one by one, and as the play goes on they slowly descend into insanity trying to find the killer among them.

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Hair and makeup were accurate to the time period, and each individual costume stayed true to the characters wearing it. The colour palette blended well together with the set, while making a clear contrast between the high society and British working class characters. Vera Claythorne’s red lips, red nails, thick eyelashes and beauty mark made her look exactly like an upper class lady in the 1940s would. The spray painted silver hair and liquid latex used for wrinkles on the actors’ faces made the older characters look realistic.

A dramatic background track was woven in and out of scenes, featuring suspenseful music, gunshots, foghorns, ocean waves and storm effects. The set included antique sofas, a fancy chandelier, a polar bear skin rug, and different levels. It was stable and well constructed, and the haze machine gave the show a dramatic atmosphere. The red soldiers symbolizing the death of each character were so important to the plot. Cigarettes and pipes were used consistently, with sparks of flame or water vapour pouring out of the end as smoke.

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The cast delivered astonishing performances, particularly Joshua Walmsley, Sara Whitley, and Florence Cole, all with thorough, well-practiced British accents. Sara Whitley’s portrayal of Vera Claythorne was remarkable as you could see every emotion on her face and feel everything her character was feeling. From the fragile beautiful moments of pure terror to her hysterical panic laughing fit, she gave a stunning performance right up to the very end. The tension between Vera and Philip Lombard (played by Joshua Walmsley) was so real it was almost tangible. Joshua Walmsley delivered a fierce performance. He played the tipsy, ostentatious character in the most authentic way, going all out the whole night. Florence Cole was the perfect fit for her role as Justice Lawrence Wargrave. She portrayed the demented character in such a chilling way through her sneaky undercover beginning to her maniacal monologue and laughter in the very last scene.

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Holy Trinity Catholic High School had the audience on the edge of their seats with this heartstopping performance. The whole show was incredible, carefully brought to life by the talented actors under the stage lights.

Elizabeth Kile
Critic, St. Francis Xavier High School

Ten guests, ten little soldier boys, one cunning killer, and one amazing show by the cast and crew of Holy Trinity Catholic High School. Also known as the Trinity Pit Stop Theatre Co., this troupe of talented students presented the audience with their wonderful rendition of the murder mystery drama And Then There Were None.

Perhaps one of her more morbid works, Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None begins as ten guests arrive at an isolated island manor by personal invitation of a mysterious host. Things only get stranger as guests begin to drop like flies, one by one; their grim fates seemingly foreshadowed by a sinister nursery rhyme. With guilt on their conscience, murder on their doorstep, and no way to contact the mainland, the remaining guests must work together to find the killer among them if anyone is to survive.

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Trinity Pit Stop Theatre Co.’s remarkable production of And Then There Were None captivated the audience from beginning to end. The mood was set: the dim light, the flickering fireplace, and the dreary haze of cigarette smoke. Anyone taking their seat for this performance knew that nothing good could happen at this lavish island mansion. Every member of the cast performed tremendously well, each capturing their character’s unique voice and personality, bringing the audience to their feet with an excellent ending that shocked and delighted, as any good murder mystery should.

Stumbling through this mystery along with the audience was the lovely, poised but so very guilt ridden Vera Claythorne, played by Sara Whitley. Sara’s collected and sweet demeanour matched her character perfectly, and her fearful spiral into hysteria felt real, releasing such cries of anguish in her final scenes, that one could think the terrors unfolding on stage were actually happening. Unsure of whether she wanted to love him or hate him, Vera’s dynamic with fellow guest Philip Lombard (Joshua Walmsley) was performed very well. The duo could go from casual flirting, to passionate romance, to tense distrust seamlessly, keeping the audience wondering what would become of the pair. Also attending the ill fated gathering was Justice Lawrence Wargrave, played by Florence Cole. Pensive, collected and authoritative when she needed to be, Cole commanded the stage with her spectacular voice and consistent accent complete with a laugh that was equal parts pleasant and sinister. Cole embodied the character every moment she was onstage. Whether she was under the spotlight or in the background, she kept up the little mannerisms and movements characteristic of the old judge, and in the final act, broke that calm and collected façade to demonstrate a fantastic range of emotion.

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Behind the scenes, the crew worked hard to create the island manor and its doomed inhabitants. The set was sturdily constructed, complemented by billowing smoke effects and working cigarettes and pipes. From graying heads and eyebrows, to tight buns and bouncy curls, the hair and makeup department had a clear vision for what each character should look like, infusing bits of their personalities into their hairstyles, and highlighting the variety ages present at the manor. Sound and lights were well executed, both well timed to highlight building tension or sudden shocks.

The show finished with a bang as the final body hit the floor and brought this night of suspense and mystery to a close. With a chilling finale and an overall wonderful performance, applause echoed through the room as the cast and crew of Holy Trinity Catholic High School left the stage. One murder mystery, the final act done, a bow and ovation, and then there were none.

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Anastasia Lipova
Critic, St. Joseph High School

A marvellously talented group of actors gave a sensational performance on the stage in Holy Trinity Catholic High School’s production of And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.

The play conveyed the experiences of ten strangers who were summoned to an excluded island by an unknown host. None of the guests anticipated an accusation of murder upon their arrival. Dealing with characters that experience confusion, fear, and bitter memories, the performers managed to conduct and capture all aspects of these complex emotions.

Vera Claythorne played by Sara Whitley is a rich, kind-hearted girl who faces horror on the island. With her simple yet passionate glances, Sara Whitley relived much emotion and compassion that Vera’s character carries within herself. Whitley’s performance incorporated powerful and tragic sentiments that her character faces throughout the journey of love and madness.

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Justice Lawrence Wargrave, played by Florence Cole is an intellectual, witty, and mysterious man. In this role, Florence Cole astonished all with her outstanding performance. Cole’s brilliant way of portraying the psychotic character with simple gestures like a freaky smile or the movement of her hands brought the character to life.

The play was assembled in an aesthetically pleasing way. From details such as costumes and makeup, all the way to things like lighting and special effects.

The makeup done by Kathleen Luck and Sara Whitley was simple yet suitable for the time period. Small details such as a mole on the cheek and red lipstick added necessary detail. The way they were able to transform young teenagers into elderly people was truly incredible.

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The stage crew made sure that the play kept running smoothly at all times. They had clean transitions from one scene to another. The sound was effective and added to the suspense that the play portrayed. Along with other technical aspects such as lighting, the use of appropriate colours added to the apprehension and mystifying sense of the production.

And Then There Were None is a challenging play for high school students to tackle, yet the performers executed a formidable show.

About the reviews:

The Holy Trinity Catholic High School production of And Then There Were None was reviewed by 25 critics representing 5 schools. The critic discussions were mentored by teacher Sarah Jennings of St. Joseph High School and student reviews were edited and selected for publication by teacher Julia Calcafuoco of St. Mother Teresa High School, who could see only the reviews, not the names or schools of the reviewers.

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Next review: Elmwood School’s production of Little Women.

About the Cappies:

The Citizen and 18 high schools are participating in the Cappies, a Washington, D.C.-based program that uses high school critics to review high school theatre. The program is a unique partnership between the Citizen, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, and the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Two schools from other boards in the region and two private schools have also joined. The four winners of the lead acting categories will receive a bursary provided by the international law firm Gowling WLG Canada LLP. Follow the Cappies on Twitter @OttawaCappies.