At Aurora Fox, a small cast tells a big story in lively production directed by Rich Cowden

The classic story Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne comes to Aurora Fox Theatre in a seismic adaptation by Mark Brown, directed by executive producer Richard R. Cowden. It’s a fast-moving production featuring a cast of six actors and a myriad of characters and costumes.

As the story goes, Phileas Fogg (Bill Diggle) and his loyal French valet Passepartout (Matthew Murry) attempt to circumnavigate the globe, wagering they can do so in 80 days. Using humor and minimal stagecraft, the audience is treated to a thrilling ride involving stampeding elephants, a typhoon and a runaway train in just over two hours.

A combination of sublime acting and top-notch directing propels this production to an extreme level. It’s sharp, fast and cleverly executed.

Diggle heads the remarkable cast as Phileas Fogg. A perfect mix of determination and a super calm demeanor, Diggle meets the role head-on. Mostly unflappable, he is the anchor for the action swirling around him and the entire cast. His energetic performance is wonderfully restrained but hits all the high notes with aplomb.

(L-R) Matthew Murry, Bill Diggle, Maya Jairam and Brian Watson in ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ at the Aurora Fox | Photo: Gail Marie Bransteitter

Murry, as Passepartout, brings a sense of warmth to the story. Murry is both loyal and devoted to his employer, adding an overall quality of optimism to the play. He is equally excited about the global journey, and Murry has captured this challenge with a humorous and good-natured portrayal of Passepartout.

Throughout the expedition, Fogg is pursued by Detective Fix (Grant Bowman), who is trying to return Fogg to London as a suspect in a major crime. Bowman is perfectly cast as the somewhat bungling detective with a mispronounced name who is out to get his man. His range as an actor shines as he is called upon to embody other characters throughout the play.

Speaking of range, Brian Watson, as “Everyone Else,” shows us again his ability to morph into one character after another. Playing a dozen or more characters (I lost count), Watson captures each character with a telling accent or physicality, bringing hilarious results.

Maya Jairam and Joseph A. W. Steiner round out this ensemble-driven cast in roles that push the story forward, leaving no stone unturned. Jairam’s character, Aouda, provides Fogg with the highly anticipated love interest, and Steiner fills the gaps with several plot-driven assignments while understudying 25 characters.

This is an enchanting adaptation of Verne’s family-friendly story, and Cowden has directed it masterfully, pinpointing each stop on the global expedition. He has infused a quality of joyful exuberance while capturing the mandatory momentum toward the ultimate goal of encircling the planet in 80 days. It is a delightful execution of a treasured classic story.

Brandon Philip Case designed the successful use of projections on the back screen, and the costumes designed by Linda Morken are abundant and equally noteworthy.