Review: AGATHA CHRISTIE'S AND THEN THERE WERE NONE at Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Running now through June 28th.
Few mystery writers have ever mastered suspense quite like Agatha Christie, and And Then There Were None remains one of her most enduring achievements. Now playing at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater through June 28th, this gripping adaptation delivers an evening of intrigue, tension, and remarkable performances wrapped inside one of the most stunning scenic designs of the season.
The story follows ten strangers who are lured to a secluded island under various pretenses. Upon their arrival, they discover that their mysterious hosts are nowhere to be found. As unsettling accusations emerge, the guests realize they are all connected by dark secrets from their pasts. As members of the group begin dying one by one, paranoia takes hold as they desperately try to determine who may be responsible for the murders before becoming the next victim.
One of the production's greatest triumphs is its scenic design. Equal parts Art Deco dreamscape and architectural showpiece, the set combines gleaming marble floors, towering windows, luxurious furnishings, and glittering chandeliers into a portrait of old-money extravagance. Yet for all its beauty, the space never feels comfortable. The vastness of the room leaves the characters exposed, transforming the mansion into a glamorous cage where suspicion lingers in every corner. The striking contrast between the opulence of the environment and the growing sense of entrapment gives the design dramatic weight beyond simply being beautiful scenery. This is a set that doesn't merely house the action—it amplifies it.
My only criticism of the evening involved a small staging issue during the opening moments of Act Two. With the onstage lighting kept intentionally minimal, one reflective set piece positioned behind the cast caught green and red light from the rear of the house. The effect proved somewhat distracting and pulled focus from the performers until cast members crossed in front of it. Fortunately, it is a minor blemish in an otherwise breathtaking design.
The cast displays excellent chemistry throughout, creating a believable ensemble of strangers forced into increasingly desperate circumstances.
As the keepers of the house, Mr. and Mrs. Rogers (Matt Daniels and Marcella Kearns) provide some of the evening's most effective moments. Kearns perfectly captures Mrs. Rogers' nervous discomfort as she finds herself forced beyond her familiar duties when guests arrive before the anticipated hosts. Daniels brings warmth, humility, and quiet humanity to Mr. Rogers, grounding the character while maintaining the butler's professional demeanor. Their comic timing together is impeccable.
Among the guests, Jordan Sobel and Sarah Suzuki shine as Captain Philip Lombard and Vera Claythorne. Sobel presents Lombard as confident and entitled while revealing flashes of protectiveness and vulnerability beneath the bravado. His expressive physicality and facial reactions add depth to every scene. Suzuki is equally compelling, gradually revealing Vera's fractured psyche piece by piece. Her performance is layered, nuanced, and captivating from beginning to end.
One of the evening's standout performances comes from James Carrington as Dr. Armstrong. From his first entrance, Carrington commands attention with undeniable charisma. His portrayal of Armstrong's mounting anxiety is so effective that it becomes contagious. Through expertly calibrated body language and impeccable comic timing, he creates a character whose unraveling becomes both entertaining and deeply unsettling.
Another standout is Jessica Angleskhan as Emily Brent. A sure sign of a successful performance is when an actor fully embodies a character the audience loves to dislike, and Angleskhan accomplishes exactly that. She brings Brent's prejudice, close-mindedness, and unwavering sense of moral superiority vividly to life. It is a fearless and thoroughly convincing performance.
What makes And Then There Were None particularly effective in 2026 is how relevant many of its themes feel today. Questions of guilt, accountability, judgment, privilege, and moral responsibility resonate strongly in our current social and political climate. While Christie wrote the story decades ago, its exploration of how people justify their actions—and who ultimately gets to pass judgment—feels remarkably contemporary.
Beautifully designed, expertly performed, and packed with suspense, Milwaukee Rep's And Then There Were None is a gripping theatrical experience. Fans of classic mysteries will find plenty to enjoy, while newcomers will discover why Christie's masterwork continues to captivate audiences nearly a century after it was first published.
Photo Credit. Pictured center Jordan Sobel. Photo by Michael Brosilow.
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