Murder on the Links – Play – Review – Taproot Theatre – Shows I've Seen

@showsiveseen "#Murder on the Links" #comedy #mystery play at @TaprootTheatre. Based on #agathaChristie's novel. Starring Richard Nguyen Sloniker (again) as the meticulous #HerculePoirot ♬ nice to know you – lovelytheband

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Murder on the Links comedy mystery play at Taproot Theatre. Based on the Agatha Christie novel. Starring Richard Nguyen Sloniker (again!) as the meticulous Hercule Poirot. Claire Marx shined with her signature charm. Impressive doubling from the cast. Now extended (twice!) through 8/30/25.

Recommendation:
See it if you enjoy murder mystery comedy plays (like Clue) filled with campy caricatures.

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No

Mainstream Appeal: Medium

If A Random Stranger Asked What Show They Should See This Weekend, Would I Mention This Production? Yes

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: Regional premiere, based on Agatha Christie’s gripping novel. After receiving an urgent plea from a stranger, Hercule Poirot whisks himself to the French seaside only to arrive a day too late. Paul Renauld has been found dead and the scene of the crime… a golf course. Poirot sets out to solve the murder, uncovering a web of deception, hidden identities, and old grudges.

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) or Dynamic Set: Static

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but you’d probably appreciate the show more if you read the book.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Union Actors: 2

Total Actors: 6

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Was there an intermission? Yes

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2 hours

Other Rave(s)

Cast Doubling: Four of the six actors (Betsy Mugavero, Tyler Todd Kimmel, Claire Marx, and Jeff Allen Pierce) juggled a carousel of multiple characters. They distinguished each role through sharp dialect work (guided by dialect coach Marianna de Fazio) and costume changes. True to campy comedic style, the production acknowledged the absurdity of the cast doubling as characters rolled their eyes at one another while swapping personas mid-scene in a madcap whirl.

Rant(s)

Script: The script was difficult to follow and left me feeling restless. For a lighthearted piece, it demanded more mental energy than expected. In particular, the confusing chaotic resolution lacked the quintessential “satisfying Agatha Christie twist.” The twist was reminiscent of a soap opera grasping at straws to resolve a story that painted itself into a corner. By the end, I already lost track of key plot points … including the culprit’s identity! Overall, the script didn’t have the finesse or tightness of a classic play like The Mousetrap. It’s a reminder that some Agatha Christie novels are best translated into a script by Agatha Christie herself.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)