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Appointment with Death starts at Emma Kelly Theater
4.24 Appt with Death

STATESBORO—The Averitt STARS Community Theater will bring one of Agatha Christie’s famous murder mysteries, “Appointment with Death,” to life at the famous Emma Kelly Theater on April 24-26.

Christie was an English crime writer of novels, short stories and plays. Her works made her one of the most important and innovative writers in the development of the genre.

“Appointment with Death” will be directed by Chris Rushing. Last year Rushing directed Georgia Southern University Theatre Performance of “Waiting for Godot” at the Emma Kelly Theater. Rushing has been involved in theater in various ways for seven years; however, this is the largest cast Rushing has directed before.

“Everyone is a unique individual. We have people from all different walks of life that probably would not normally encounter one another,” said Rushing.

“Appointment with Death” was first published in the UK on May 2, 1938, and in the U.S later in the same year. The famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot is featured in this work of Christie. The play is set in Jerusalem.

While holidaying in Jerusalem Poirot overhears Raymond Boynton telling his sister that their mother should die. Mrs. Boynton is a sadistic tyrant, constantly picking on the younger members of the family creating enemies inside and outside the family. When Mrs. Boynton is found dead, Poirot has only 24 hours to solve the case. Boynton is sure he will be able to solve the mystery by interviewing the suspects involved in the murder.

Was she murdered? Did she die of natural causes? Was she killed by someone outside the family?

The Averitt Center’s own Gallery Coordinator Jesse Ogden will play Raymond Boynton, the son of the sadistic Mrs. Boynton. Raymond is one of the three children able to escape his tyrant mother.

“It’s my first time being part of a murder mystery, which is an exciting change of pace for me,” said Ogden, who has been involved in theater for the past 10 years.

Mrs. Boynton will be played by Susan Jackson who has been involved in the performing arts since about age five. She has had her most involvement in theater in the past 30 years.

Statesboro theater goers will remember her most recently from her role as Mrs. Upson in “Mame.”

“Mrs. Boynton is a very evil person. She is almost like a Cruella de Vil in ‘101 Dalmatians.’ I like playing characters that are not at all like me,” said Jackson. “I enjoy performing and being a part of the Averitt STARS.”

“It’s a great murder mystery with an unexpected twist at the end,” said Rushing.

If you are interested in solving this mystery make it to the Emma Kelly Theater April 24 and April 25 at 7:30 p.m. or April 26 at 2 p.m. If you have any questions or would like to order tickets please call the Averitt Center for the Arts, located in the heart of Statesboro at 33 East Main St., at (912) 212-2787.

The Averitt STARS are always looking for people with acting abilities. If you are interested in becoming a part of the Averitt STARS go to www.averittcenterforthearts.com for information on how to become a STAR.

The Averitt Center for the Arts is not a government agency and does not receive unrestricted funds from grants or local, state or federal funds. A large part of its funding is from individual supporters.

The Averitt Center for the Arts is a 501 (c) 3 organization. This program is supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts through appropriations for the Georgia General Assembly. GCA also receives support from its partner — The National Endowment for the Arts.