Vertigo Theatre’s production of Peril in the Alps surprised me. I walked in expecting a straightforward mystery and left laughing at a detective who skis down a mountain.
The story is simple. Arthur Hastings asks Hercule Poirot to help find his missing sister-in-law, Bella Duveen. But Poirot is already working on a similar case. The two disappearances might be connected. Or maybe they’re not. Then Poirot might be the one in real danger. The investigation takes them from London to Paris to the Swiss Alps.
Playwright Steven Dietz wrote this sequel based on Agatha Christie’s famous detective. It follows his earlier play “Murder on the Links,” which was very popular at Vertigo last season. Six actors play over thirty roles. They change costumes and characters quickly, and it’s fun to watch. What I loved was the humour. It’s full of physical comedy and silly situations. The show is entertaining and funny while keeping a real mystery to solve.
Graham Percy as Poirot
Graham Percy plays Poirot. He makes the character feel fresh and true to Christie’s books. The books show Poirot as eccentric and brilliant, with occasional funny moments. Percy captures that brilliance while making him funnier. He’s still brilliant at solving mysteries, but he doesn’t take himself seriously. I appreciated that it respects the original character. Agatha Christie fans won’t feel disrespected. New audiences won’t feel lost. The jokes work for everyone.
Austin Halarewich as Hastings
Austin Halarewich plays Captain Hastings. This is his first show at Vertigo. He narrates most of the play and talks directly to the audience. It feels natural. He respects Poirot in every scene. Their relationship feels genuine.
The Other Actors
The other actors are great. Heidi Damayo plays Hastings’ wife and her twin sister. She uses a scarf as a belt to show the difference. It works well. Even Hastings gets confused about which sister is which, so the audience gets the joke. Aidan Laudersmith plays several roles, including Hastings’ upset brother-in-law and a kidnapper guard. His best moment is playing a London cop who doesn’t realize he’s next to the famous Poirot. Linda Kee plays the woman whose husband disappeared and a hat shop owner. She makes both characters feel different, and I wish she had more dialogue. Tyrell Crews was fantastic as the workman. Although he didn’t have as many scenes as some of the others, he made every moment count. He’s a skilled comedian with great timing.
Set and Design
The set design impressed me. Hanne Loosen created a space that mostly stays the same. But subtle changes transform it into different locations. It shifts from a London sitting room to a Paris hat shop to the Swiss Alps through clever design choices. What stood out was how the hat shop became part of the story. In the second act, the actors switch hats to represent different characters. It’s funny and makes sense because the shop matters to the plot. It’s not just scenery. It actually helps tell the story. This is an ingenious approach that shows how much can be done with a thoughtful, flexible design.
Director Clare Preuss
Director Clare Preuss knows comedic timing. She knows when jokes need to land and how long to hold them. She has taken something that worked in “Murder on the Links” and made it fit this story. She paces the character changes so they feel fun, not confusing. The energy keeps moving without feeling rushed.
Final Thoughts & Ticket Info
I found Peril in the Alps to be smart and funny. It doesn’t apologize for being entertaining. There’s a mystery to solve, but the real pleasure is watching performers have fun. It’s charming and clever. I highly recommend it.
The production runs through December 14 at Vertigo Theatre. There are matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. Evening shows run Tuesday through Saturday. Tickets start at $32. You can buy them online or at the box office. I’d grab tickets soon. This show will likely sell out.
