A letter from beyond the grave sparks an investigation.
That is the central premise behind "Go Back for Murder," a new show being put on by Cochrane’s local Take a Bow Community Theatre group. The play is an Agatha Christie original and will be performed six times across two weekends at the RancheHouse Theatre.
Beginning April 25-27, and then May 2-3, Take a Bow will perform the titular murder mystery that features a classic Christie plot.
Carla Crale’s mother is sent to prison for the murder of her father. Carla’s mother dies behind bars, but not before sending a letter claiming her innocence. Determined to clear her mother’s name, Carla gathers everyone who was present the day before and the day of her father’s murder to recreate the scene inside the idyllic country home of Alderbury, in the west of England.
According to the Take a Bow press release, the play “explores how time, prejudice, and perception can warp personal testimony and examines the danger of relying solely on memory, leading to a disturbing and unexpected truth.”
Director Joanne McGilvray revealed that, unlike most of Christie’s work, "Go Back for Murder" does not feature the author’s most famous cultural creation, the detective Hercule Poirot. Instead, the play is a feat of thespian cooperation, with every single actor being integral to the plot.
The spring performance of Go Back for Murder is going to be the first time Take a Bow has put on the Christie play. McGilvray, who has been associated with local theatre productions for 35 years and has been with Take a Bow for the last three years, said the first production she was a part of in her hometown of Montreal, was "Go Back for Murder."
“For $20 [the play] is great entertainment, and supporting the arts in any community is vital.” McGilvary said. According to the director, Take a Bow’s spring shows are typically not as well attended as other performances they put on throughout the year. The hope is that an interesting plot driven performance by one of the murder mystery genres greatest authors will entice an unseasonably large crowd.
But the size of the crowds is not something McGilvray is really worried about. “The community is really good at supporting a thing like this,” she said. The theatre group is expecting a lot more door sales than online ticket purchases.
All of the shows are to be performed at the RancheHouse theatre, with showtimes beginning at 7:00 pm on April 25, 26, and May 2, and 2:00 pm on April 27 and May 3. The play is rated for ages 16 and up, and contains smoking and alcohol, and explores adult themes.
Tickets can be purchased at the Take a Bow website or bought at the door.
