Ten strangers. One island. A chilling invitation that quickly turns deadly.

Baron Stage at Manheim Central High School will take audiences to the mysterious Soldier Island with Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None," a classic whodunit filled with suspense, secrets and surprise. The play will be performed at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 20 and 21, and at 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22, with a special invited senior citizen performance on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 6 p.m. Performances will be held in the high school auditorium, 400 E. Adele Ave., Manheim.

Based on Christie's best-selling novel, the story begins when a group of seemingly ordinary people is invited to a remote mansion under various pretenses - employment, vacation or investigation. Once they arrive, a recorded voice accuses each guest of murder. Soon, one by one, the guests begin to die in ways that eerily echo a dark nursery rhyme about "Ten Little Soldier Boys." As panic spreads, the survivors realize they've been trapped by someone seeking their own brand of justice. But who among them is the killer?

"It's about murder," said senior Allie Parke, who plays Vera Claythorne in the Nov. 22 performances. "Ten people are sent to an island, and they have all a secret past where they have all committed a crime. All of a sudden, everybody just starts dying, and you don't know who the murderer is."

Although the play includes moments of levity, senior Hanna Gray, who portrays Sir Lawrence Wargrave in the Saturday performances, describes it as a true drama.

"It takes place in the 1930s, and a lot of the original cast was written as male," she explained. "We changed it up to include more female roles. Changing Wargrave from a man to a woman almost completely changes the character, because the way men and women express emotions or rage is so different. It really does rewrite the character."

Fellow senior Rae Stannisch, who also performs as Wargrave in alternating shows, agreed that the part offers a challenge. "With Wargrave, we're playing a character who's playing a character," she hinted, careful not to reveal too much. "She's very serious, down to business 100% of the time. She's the voice of reason in the show. Everyone goes to her for help, and she's the guiding light for everyone."

The production's creative team found ways to balance the mystery's intensity with thoughtful sensitivity. Assistant director Amelia Fair introduced the character of Death, played by Raygan Sites.

"The purpose of the character is to create an additional role to accommodate the size of the cast, as well as to portray the 'killing' of each character in a manner that is tasteful and sensitive to the current social climate we live in," shared director Tyler Shull. "As each character falls in the show, Death is there to lead them from life to death." 

Senior Lilie West, who alternates the role of Vera with Allie, said she loves exploring her character's transformation.

"Vera's a very complex character, which I really do enjoy about her," she said. "She puts up this very polite front, but as the show goes on, you see that start to crack as she's hit with a bunch of different circumstances that really shock her. She goes from being a very polite woman to being more of a panicked woman."

"And Then There Were None" has been a rewarding challenge for the Baron Stage troupe.

"This show is much different than anything we've done in the past, and because it's so different, it's something people should come and see," said Allie. "Also, seeing people that you go to class with every day and then seeing them portray a whole different personality on stage, that's really interesting."

For students who enjoy mystery podcasts or true-crime shows, the production will be especially appealing, Hanna said, adding, "I think that's why this story will appeal to students. It's clever, and it keeps you on your toes."

Rae noted that the cast members were all surprised to learn the murderer's identity, and she thinks audiences will be as well.

"All throughout the show, the characters are trying to figure out who did it, and they're very certain about who they think is the killer at certain points in the show to where the audience is going along with them through the motions," she said. "But once you get to the ending, I think it's a shock for everyone."

"And Then There Were None" is recommended for mature audiences as the script discusses and includes sensitive subjects, such as suicide, murder and the inclusion of two sounds to resemble gunshots. Tickets are available by searching for "Manheim Central High School" at https://my.hometownticketing.com or may be purchased at the door.