Chattanooga Theatre Centre stages adaptation of Agatha Christie’s first novel

The cast of "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" includes, from left, Patrick Brady, Dana Cole, Courtenay Cholovich, Dana Rogers, Sandy Whetmore, Rebekah Hildebrandt, Mike Pala and Evans Jarnefeldt. (Cansler Photography) The cast of "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" includes, from left, Patrick Brady, Dana Cole, Courtenay Cholovich, Dana Rogers, Sandy Whetmore, Rebekah Hildebrandt, Mike Pala and Evans Jarnefeldt. (Cansler Photography)

By Staff Report January 24, 2018 4 min read

If you go

› What: “The Mysterious Affair at Styles”› Where: Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St.› When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Jan. 26-27, Feb. 2-3 and 8-9; 2:30 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 28, Feb. 4 and 11; and 7 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 1 and 8› Admission: $11-$30› For more information: 423-267-8534Special Events› Thursday, Feb. 1: Live captioning for the hearing impaired› Friday, Feb. 2: Talkback with director and actors following performance

Patrick Brady is cast in the pivotal role of Detective Hercule Poirot. (Cansler Photography)

A young, unknown British writer named Agatha Christie, acting on a dare from her sister, published her first novel, “The Mysterious Affair at Styles,” in 1920 – and the rest, as they say, is history.

While the novel launched Christie’s career as one of the greatest mystery writers of all time, the story wasn’t adapted for the stage until 2012. So the Chattanooga Theatre Centre’s upcoming production of the stage adaptation could be called either an old or new play. But either way, it will keep you guessing until the end.

The CTC opens Agatha Christie’s “The Mysterious Affair at Styles” on Friday night, Jan. 26, with performances continuing through Sunday, Feb. 11.

The story is set in Essex, England, during summer 1917. Back from war, Capt. Arthur Hastings is convalescing at Styles Court. When the lady of the house suspiciously dies, the tranquil manor turns treacherous. The cause of her death is deemed murder and the killer could be anyone: her unappealing new husband, her ne’er-do-well son, the blunt female groundskeeper, even the local toxicologist.