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There is a reason Agatha Christie is known as “the Queen of Crime.”

She was the author of 66 detective novels and 14 short stories, most of them featuring beloved fictional characters Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.

She is the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies. More than 30 films have been made of her work.

 That is what continues to intrigue director Jack Morman.

“I keep coming back to Dame Christie because of her remarkable characters,” he said. “From the cerebral Poirot to the affable Miss Marple, you just love watching them unravel the mystery they’ve been placed in.

Morman is directing Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” at Lafayette Society for Performing Arts Black Box Theatre on April 24-27.

“The characters involved in the mystery almost always have a depth that allows you to put yourself in their place,” he said. “She also creates wonderfully complex motivations for her characters so the reader is challenged to find the culprit alongside the great detective.”

This version of the play is a little different, he said.

“We are taking a bit of comedic license with this classic whodunit,” he said. “We’ve had incredible fun, planting little red herrings all through the show to keep our patrons on their toes as they try to solve the mystery.”

Mormon said he is thrilled with his cast.

“We have made a concerted effort over the past few years to reach out and bring in new performers to our stage,” he said. “I believe this has added a wonderful depth to our performances. In this cast alone, I am working for the first time with five actors new to LSPA.”

The director said he loves how each cast member brings his or her own unique perspective to the role.

“The great joy of the acting process comes when creative people work with a great script to create something that did not exist before.”

The cast includes Avery Jones, DeLion Lance, Gregg McLeroy, Jesse Lawrance, Melissa Stanley, Ike Moore, Savanna Hunt, Bear Smith, Lizzie Graves, Teresa Krizay, and Jade Talley.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students. For more information about purchasing tickets, visit LSPArts.org or call the business office at (706) 882-9909. The LSPA Black Box Theatre is at 214 Bull St. in downtown LaGrange.