Natchez Little Theatre is proud to present Agatha Christie’s funny murder mystery “Death on the Nile” at Natchez Little Theatre at 319 Linton Avenue at Maple Street in Natchez Thursday through Sunday.

“Death on the Nile” is among Agatha Christie’s best-loved and most famous works and is a sweeping mystery of love, jealously and betrayal. Plus, despite the murders there are a lot of laughs with this production’s eccentric characters. Agatha Christie drew inspiration for this novel from her travels in Egypt, picking up geographically and historical details throughout her time there.

When the play moved to London’s West End in 1946, starring Helen Hayes, the title was changed to “Murder on the Nile,” in the same year the show opened on Broadway and in 1950 a live television broadcast of the U.S. play took place as part of the Kraft Television Theatre.

The characters boarding the Lotus in Egypt for a cruise up the Nile are Miss Ffolio-Ffoulkes, an eccentric English lady of considerable wealth and education and a social snob, is played hilariously by Yvonne Murray. Miss Ffolio-Ffoulkes spends half the year in Natchez at her antebellum mansion and the other half at her English estate. Christina Grant, portrayed by Julia Richardson, is the Scottish niece of Miss Ffolio-Ffoulkes and travels with her aunt as a companion and servant.

Smith, played by NLT newcomer, Timothy Tanner, appears to be a vagabond archaeologist, but remember with any Agatha Christie story no one is what they appear to be. Louise, the French maid to Kay Ridgeway, the wealthiest woman in England, next to the Queen of course, is portrayed by NLT award-winning actress Nicole Harris. Dr. Bessner, a foreign doctor with a questionable eastern European accent, is played by Michael McCalip. Beware his injections.

Kay Mostyn, played by Susannah Burrell, leads a charmed life, blessed with beauty, enormous wealth and a new husband. She is embarking on her honeymoon with her new husband Simon Mostyn portrayed by award-winning NLT actor Devin Arnold. Canon Pennefather of the Church of England, played by NLT veteran and award-winning actor, Stacey Carden. His boarding the Lotus is quite a surprise to the Mostyns as he is Kay’s legal guardian who lives a very worldly lavish lifestyle thanks to the Mostyn estate, which he manages until Kay turns 25 or marries.

Boarding the Lotus at the last minute is a beautiful femme fatale with a French accent, Jacqueline de Severac, played by Katie Adams of Jonesville. It seems Jacqueline is fleeing the heartbreak of being dumped by her fiancé for the love of her childhood best friend, Kay Mostyn.

The ship is commanded by a Scotsman Captain McNaught, played by NLT award-winning actor, Derek Saxon, and his Egyptian Steward played by Jackson Adams. As the passengers board the Lotus, they are aggressively greeted by Nubian Beadsellers Morgan and Arrocus Baskin selling rare artifacts from Egyptian tombs, which seem to be made in China.

Fatal circumstances await when the idyllic surroundings are shattered by a shocking and brutal murder. Under scrutiny is a multitude of memorable eccentric passengers, all with a reason to kill. The tension and claustrophobia builds, as a shocking and audacious conspiracy is laid bare.

This is not your typical Agatha Christie whodunnit! The zany antics of these passengers will have you laughing until you cry, which makes the murder or murders even more shocking. It will be a delightful production of which I am proud to direct. NLT’s production is set in the late 1960s. I designed the sets and lighting with assistance from Devin Arnold, Stacey Carden, Timothy Tanner and Bill and Norma Williams. Janet McNeely is my assistant director.

Performances are Thursday – Saturday, at 7:30 p.m. with a final Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 each for non-members/sponsors of NLT and should be reserved. For reservations call NLT at 601.442.2233 or go on-line and guarantee your reservations on NLT’s website at natcheztheatre.org. Purchasing your tickets securely online helps you avoid the lines at NLT’s box office and even NLT Members and Sponsors do need to reserve their tickets in advance to guarantee seats will be available.

Don’t miss this marvelous show of comedy, murder and mystery. If you loved last season’s award-winning sold out production of “The Addams Family” you will love “Death on the Nile.”

Layne Taylor, NLT artistic & executive director, is director of Death on the Nile.