Van der Klei stars in the brand new play Murder on the Oriental Express.
After Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, another classic is now coming to the stage; Murder on the Orient Express. With detective Hercule Poirot on board the train that comes to a standstill in a heavy snowstorm. The next morning one passenger was murdered. Including Remko Vrijdag, Wilbert Gieske, Lone van Roosendaal, Frederik Brom and Gerrie van der Klei as Princess Dragomiroff. We spoke to van der Klei about her role.
1. What was your very first experience with Agatha Christie?
“I’m a huge fan of Agatha Christie. I also visited her house and statue in Torquay in the south of England and I think I devoured all her books. I’ve been doing that since I was a teenager.”
2. How would you describe the secret of her unwavering popularity?
“Her writing style is beautiful, easy and descriptive, but never long-winded. She keeps the reader engaged until the revelation of the ‘whodunnit’, but her other work is also beautiful. Preferably read in English!”
3. What appealed to you about the role of Princess Dragomiroff?
“I play the Russian princess Dragomiroff who has fled from the Bolsheviks. I didn’t know in advance what the role would entail, but fortunately my suspicions are correct. She is a somewhat bitter old woman, but still with the fighting spirit and much-needed irony to survive. I can’t do without that irony either!”
4. What are the challenges for an actor when starring in ‘whodunnit’?
“You have to make the ‘secret’ as attractive and fascinating as possible and maintain the tension, especially in a thriller. But that actually applies to all roles. Each role has its own secret.”
5. What else can we expect from you in the near future?
“The rehearsal time and a tour of five to six performances a week hardly leave any room for other things, this is enough for the time being. But I’m really looking forward to it, as a fan of Agatha! Maybe another Miss Marple role one day, when I’m really old? Sounds great…”
Murder on the Orient Express, November 11, 2023 to March 24, 2024 = https://repentertainment.nl/murderontheorientexpress/.
Text: Jorrit Niels | Image: Sytze Pruiksma
