Palo Alto Players’ production of “The Da Vinci Code,” which runs through Sunday (Feb. 1) at Lucie Stern Theatre, is a fast-paced action thriller that blends murder mystery with questions of history, faith and interpretation, according to cast members.
Directed by Jennifer Copaken, the play is based on Dan Brown’s best-selling novel, adapted for the stage by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel. The story follows Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon as he becomes entangled in a murder investigation at the Louvre Museum that quickly expands into an international conspiracy involving hidden symbols, secret societies and centuries-old religious debates.
“First and foremost, it’s a murder mystery,” said Christian Vaughn-Munck, who plays Langdon. “But that mystery rapidly expands into this international caper involving hidden symbols and long-buried secrets.”
As Langdon deciphers cryptic messages left behind by the victim, he moves through famous landmarks and works of art during his attempt to uncover the truth – all while evading authorities who begin to suspect him of the crime.
“Robert believes he’s there to help,” Vaughn-Munck said. “And then he realizes he’s actually the one being pursued.”
Along the way, Langdon teams up with Sophie Neveu, a cryptologist grappling with the murder of her grandfather and revelations about her own past.
“From the moment Sophie walks onstage, she’s dealing with tremendous loss,” said Allison Gamlen, who plays Sophie. “She’s solving problems, but she’s also processing grief and fear at the same time.”
Gamlen described Sophie as a complex character whose strength lies in both logic and emotional depth, serving as both an emotional anchor and an intellectual equal to Langdon throughout the story.
“I would love for audiences to see her the way we can also see Eve and the way we can also see Mary Magdalene – as a whole woman who is capable of many things, not just as an individual with one skill,” Gamlen said.
For Gamlen, Sophie’s role also challenges traditional narratives about whose stories are centered in history.
“So much of history is from the male perspective, and so much of the history we get is from the white male perspective,” she said. “I think it resonates with viewers to have a different hero – or heroine – in the story.”
Beyond its suspense, Vaughn-Munck said the play explores broader questions about truth and belief, particularly the tension between science and religion.
“One of the ideas the play really engages with is how people make sense of the world,” he said. “It’s not about choosing one belief system over another – it’s about questioning how those narratives are formed.”
The actor added that the show also emphasizes visual storytelling to maintain its fast pace, incorporating movement, projections and an original score to bring symbolic imagery to life onstage.
“There are moments where the symbols become physical,” Vaughn-Munck said. “It gives the audience something dynamic to engage with, rather than just watching the story unfold.”
“The Da Vinci Code,” which opened Jan. 16, has three performances remaining: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Lucie Stern Theatre, 1301 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Tickets are $35-$60.
For tickets and more information, visit paplayers.org.
