The story is one of Agatha Christie's most successful. Ten strangers lured to a forsaken island with no visible host and seemingly no purpose, until a disembodied voice accuses them each of a past murder.

Their unseen host aligns his vengeance with a gruesome nursery rhyme, a singsong detailing of the deaths of ten little soldiers and ten doomed houseguests. As survivors become fewer and the murderer becomes no more obvious, the audience is kept guessing right up to a classic surprise ending.

Directed by Faye Pitman Trupka, The Pentacle's production of a fun old favorite sticks to traditional presentation and understated sets and costuming, allowing the story and the actors to provide the play's delight.

While it may be difficult to distinguish yourself as an actor in a large ensemble, the cast of "And Then There Were None" possessed many striking stand-outs. Heather Schwartz embraces her role of Miss Vera Claythorne with sultry innocence. Her facial expressions, even when she is not speaking, are scene-stealing.

A spot-on performance is also given by Jennifer Gimzewski as the tight and condemning Emily Brent. She recites Bible passages in sweet and sharp pronunciation, completely merged into her character without a hint of awkwardness. Rob Sim, as the anguished Dr. Armstrong, is drawn up taut and lean in his oversized suit, anxiety radiating almost visibly. Both he and Ms. Gimzewski are natural actors, speaking their lines free of any artificial vaudevillian projection common to stage performances.

The jokes are funny, the mystery is confounding and the characters are compelling. This production is entirely fun and well-produced in every respect, and theatergoers will not be disappointed.