Agatha Christie, the dean of murder mystery novelists, will have another of her famous mysteries in the limelight when Waimea Community Theatre presents her play “The Hollow” on Parker School Theatre stage opening February 24th.  Although not one of Christie’s best known plays, it is often thought by critics to be one of her best written works, according to director Felicity Johnson.  Johnson, best known for directing the group’s Shakespeare series over the past twenty years, confesses to a fondness for the whodunit, and previously directed Christie’s “Murder on the Nile” for WCT.

The action takes place at The Hollow, the private estate home of wealthy Sir Henry and Lucy Angkatell in a secluded area north of London. The time is September, 1951. 

An unhappy game of romantic follow-the-leader explodes into murder one weekend during a party at The Hollow.  Sir Henry and his vague aristocratic wife, played by John Sucke and Gail Mueller, invite a number of guests to their country villa, but the event soon goes terribly wrong. Dr. Cristow, a dynamic and handsome man (John Stover) is at the center of the trouble. Henrietta, his mistress and the cousin of the Angkatells, is portrayed by Jennifer McCord, while his ex-mistress Veronica, a beautiful movie star, is brought to stage by Dedrie Miller.  Lisa Anderson plays Cristow’s colorless wife Gerda, also at The Hollow. Other visitors for the weekend are Edward (Jacy Anderson) who is in love with Henrietta and Midge (Raina Thering) who loves Edward.  Tending to the guests are Gudgeon the butler (Gary Hagerman) and Doris the maid, (Rona Lee). Complicated relationships cause tensions to mount and soon one of the guests is dead. Nearly everyone has a motive and most had the opportunity as well. Enter Inspector Colquhoun (Bob Haber) and his hardworking detective Sergeant Penny (Daryl Jim Diaz) to solve the crime.

The play will be presented on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from February 24th through March 4th.  Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7:30 pm while curtain time for the Sunday matinees is 3:00 pm.  Ticket prices will be $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and students, and $10 for children.   Tickets will be available with an advance sale discount February 13th from the theatre’s ticket outlets, Waimea General Store and Without Boundaries in Waimea, and at Suite Possibilities in Kona.