The esteemed Orient Express is taking its routine trip from Turkey to Paris, but a snow drift comes and traps everyone inside the train. What could be worse than being stuck with a ton of strangers in the middle of winter? One of those strangers being a murderer.

“Murder on the Orient Express” is the Sullivan Theater’s newest play, and the show is a stage adaptation of Agatha Christie’s original book released in 1934. The story follows renowned detective Hercule Poirot as he solves the murder of an American tycoon with a shady past.

Jon Russo plays Monsieur Bouc in “Murder on the Orient Express.” This is not Russo’s first time working with Sullivan, and it’s definitely not his first time acting. He has been acting for decades and finds that when acting in any capacity, he always learns something new. Russo enjoyed working with everyone in the cast. From seasoned actors to newer actors, he loved watching everyone grow and craft the characters during the rehearsal process.

Russo’s process of learning the character grew as rehearsals continued, adding depth to scenes and interactions where he could. Russo discovered that the meaning of Bouc in French is “goat” and refers to a “goatee.” So, for the role, he shaved to have a goatee on stage. Russo is excited for fans of Agatha Christie or anyone new to her work to get to see the show.

Knick Moore plays Hercule Poirot and was added to the cast later in the production; however it wasn’t difficult to get started.

“The rest of the cast is bringing all this energy, and they’ve got their lines down packed, and they understand the back and forth,” Moore said. “It made it a lot easier to transition into it.”

This will be Moore’s third time playing a famous detective, but the first time playing Poirot. Back when the Sullivan Theater first opened in 2023, he played Sherlock Holmes in “Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Elusive Ear.” Moore remarked the difference between playing the two famous detectives, with Holmes being more logic based and Poirot focusing more on the suspects.

Moore explained that playing Poirot and the entire story challenges him, since he struggles with his black and white thinking throughout the play

“One of Poirot’s big ideals is that the law is the law, it’s what he lives his life by,” he said. “This particular story begins with him questioning his conscience. Poirot goes into this case with doubts about whether legality really is black and white, and over the course of the play, he is presented with situations that make him question that ideal.”

Moore believes the space is something that stands out, since the theater continues to produce things that go beyond what you think is capable.

The Sullivan Theater is much smaller than other local theaters but that’s what Moore found special about the location. He loved what people can do despite a limited space. Moore said the Sullivan Theater’s opening musical, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” had many people walk into that show and walk out with their jaws on the floor, because it seems like such a small space, yet they managed to build a cathedral in it.

William Dellinger, the set designer for “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and “Murder on the Orient Express” said the train would be a piece of cake to build after working on the cathedral.

“The theater did a fantastic job utilizing the space they have,” Moore said.

Moore’s favorite scene takes place after the victim is found, and Poirot, Monsieur Bouc and the Countess are all together. In this scene they are examining the body and talking about what has happened.

“The big enjoyable part is Poirot becoming delighted with this woman,” he said. “She’s on point, she’s smart, she’s not horrified by the body, she just rolls on, proceeds, and gets down to it. And Poirot is just looking at his buddy and says eh, eh, look at her go. It’s just fun watching him admire somebody else who’s really good at what they’re doing.”

There are rules when you are presenting plays to an audience, Moore explained. Facts must be presented earlier in the play so the audience has a chance to solve it before the detective does. If not, when the detective solves it, the audience also needs a moment to put the pieces together.

“You and the audience are going to solve the mystery together, and that is what makes it fun,” Moore said.

Moore encourages everyone to visit the Sullivan Theater just to experience the space, saying its a unique experience.

“This is different, this is you almost being able to touch the actors. It really feels like you’re not watching on a big screen, but that you’re there. You’re part of it. It’s a very unique way to see the show.”

“Murder on the Orient Express” opens at the Sullivan Theater Friday, April 25. Student tickets are $20 and adult tickets are $25.