ELGIN — A murder on a stranded train, an isolated group of suspects and a detective ready to crack the case set the stage for “Murder on the Orient Express,” playing this month in Elgin.

“What’s fun about this play is it’s not like really anything else I’ve ever directed,” director Grant Turner said. “(Agatha Christie) was very, very good at taking the traditional mystery and breaking the rules just enough that you never quite knew where she was going to go, and this play is no different.”

“Murder on the Orient Express” follows the plot of the Agatha Christie mystery novel of the same name as adapted by Ken Ludwig. At the center of the mystery is Agatha Christie’s well-know Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, who uses his brain power — or “little grey cells” as he says — to solve the murder.

Having an iconic character poses its own challenges.

In “Murder on the Orient Express,” actor Kevin Cahill must approach Hercule Poirot with the understanding that many people are already familiar with at least one version of Agatha Christie’s famous detective.

“I think for an actor to get a chance to take on a character that people are already familiar with is an interesting challenge. When you do a show that few people or nobody has seen, nobody brings that character with them to the audience,” Cahill said.

In preparing for the role, Cahill said he did not specifically watch any depictions of Poirot but he has seen many in the past.

“I’m certainly aware of other Poirots. I had already seen all of these shows, so I’m familiar with the story. No one can look at me and immediately be reminded of Hercule Poirot because I’m six-three. I do have the mustache. I’ve worked really hard on the mustache,” he said.

Cahill said the audience may also need to put aside some of the things they think they know from different versions of the “Orient Express” story.

“This is not identical to the movie, so there are things about this show that may surprise people,” Cahill said.

Poirot is, of course, only one of the characters stuck on the Orient Express when murder strikes. The show features a varied cast of characters, including the mysterious Helen Hubbard, played by Hayley Rampton Larvik. An avid mystery reader, Rampton Larvik said she jumped at the chance to join this cast.

“I get to play the great character of Helen Hubbard, and she’s real sassy. It seems to come pretty naturally to me,” Rampton Larvik said with a laugh. “Mrs. Hubbard has a huge motivation for why she’s on the train.”

Another passenger is Hector McQueen, a character actor Samuel Miller described as a glorified secretary.

“He’s a bit of skittish kind of guy, but he’s also a caring guy who wants the best for everybody,” Miller said.

The audience will be able to meet all the characters — and potential suspects — and form their own theories about the murderer. Turner said the play will entertain both those new to the story and those familiar with it.

“It’s perhaps her most famous novel other than ‘And Then There Were None,’ so I expect there are people out there who know what happens. I would ask that they refrain from telling their theater mates if they can avoid it,” Turner said. “That person will enjoy the characterization and the storytelling device, but it would behoove anyone and everyone who does not know how it ends to avoid any spoilers if they can.”

The actors said solving the mystery is part of the fun of a show like “Murder on the Orient Express.”

“People should come see this because there’s something special about going to a mystery and trying to figure it out before the end,” Miller said. “I think it’ll be a ton of fun.”

Shows

“Murder on the Orient Express” runs through March 2 at the Jewel Theater in Elgin, 831 Alder St. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays, and Saturdays have two performances, at 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Tickets are $18 and available at www.elginoperahouse.com or by calling 541-663-6324.