It’s a story that’s hard to imagine on stage. As first detailed in the 1934 Agatha Christie novel, then rendered extravagantly in movies in 1974 and 2017, “Murder on the Orient Express” is a sprawling, sumptuous tale full of intrigue, passion, revenge and outrageous accents.

How could all of that opulence — not to mention a train full of people hurtling through a snowstorm in Eastern Europe — be effectively portrayed live on stage?

As Virginia Repertory Theatre showed last season with their production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” the company keeps getting better at capturing and delivering a cinematic experience. Thanks in large part to some awe-inspiring projections designed by Tennessee Dixon, their production of “Orient Express” is all-encompassing, lavish and immensely entertaining.

Utilizing the entire back wall of the theater, the impressive projection work starts with a preamble to the main action that features a mysterious man sneaking into a child’s bedroom. We are then transported to a luxury hotel in Istanbul where we meet supersleuth Hercule Poirot (Lawrence Redmond) and a cast of distinct personalities who are about to board the Orient Express heading to London.

Once the train departs in another bravura scene mixing video and onstage set pieces, the plot really kicks into gear. Characters clash, backstories are divulged and, very soon, a body is found riddled with stab wounds. Only then does the preamble make sense with the first revelation that the dead man was not who he said he was.

Initially against his will, Poirot is enlisted by train company manager Monsieur Bouc (Frank Britton) to solve the murder. Through interviews with the many passengers, more connections to the preamble arise and the list of potential suspects grows.

Those familiar with the story will know where the plot is going but this stacked cast — and the obvious fun they are having inhabiting their characters — carries the story along in a rambunctious and beguiling way.

Chewing the scenery with the most gusto is Susan Sanford as Helen Hubbard, a fiery Minnesotan with many ex-husbands and an enormous sense of entitlement. Helen ultimately spars with Russian royal, Princess Dragomoriff (Jan Guarino), who disdains her crude American ways. The princess is attended by Swedish missionary, Greta (McLean Fletcher), whose wholesomeness is so categorical that her innocence is suspect from the start.

Everyone in this large cast finds moments to shine but two more deserve special attention. Nathan Whitmer plays hotheaded businessman Samuel Ratchett and Scottish soldier Colonel Arbuthnot with enough distinction that I didn’t realize at first that both were Whitmer. And Ashley Thompson adds another sterling performance to her growing resume with her delicious take on Hungarian actress — and possible Poirot love interest — Countess Andrenyi.

Holding it all together is Redmond as Poirot, whose expressive features reflect an intellect always at work. While relatively obsequious at first, the detective grows increasingly assertive. Redmond shows a steely resolve and then a surprising sensitivity as the culprit Poirot uncovers forces him to confront choices that challenge his baseline beliefs.

This version of “Orient Express” has been deftly adapted by Ken Ludwig, cutting the book’s even larger cast and streamlining the action into a fast-moving couple of hours. Director Rick Hammerly has fostered a hearty flamboyance in the show’s characterizations, a tendency also embraced by dialect coach Amanda Durst.

All of the production’s technical elements are top-notch. Chris Raintree’s elegant set design coordinates perfectly with the video elements and Kendra Rai’s costumes are suitably over-the-top.

The ending hues closely to the book and movies but the reconstruction of the murder still packs a punch. Even if you know exactly where “Orient Express” is going, there are plenty of delightful pleasures along the way, making this ride more than worth the price of admission.

“Murder on the Orient Express” is playing at the November Theatre, 114 West Broad St. through Oct. 12th. Tickets and additional information are available at https://va-rep.org/.