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The Mousetrap
by Hollidaysburg Area Repertory Players
It’s been running continuously in London since it opened in
1952, over 20,000 productions – the longest opening run in the history of
theatre. It’s the classic whodunit written by the most famous mystery writer of
all time, Agatha Christie. It’s The Mousetrap.
The setting is a new bed-and-breakfast in the fictional
Monkswell Manor where a young couple, married just a year, is about to receive
their first hotel guests. But as those guests begin to filter in, ominous radio
reports are rolling in of a murder in London. Even more ominous is the
snowstorm rolling in that conveniently traps them all together. The uneasiness
rises as the young couple meets their eccentric, somewhat mysterious guests.
One of those guests is about to be murdered, and if they can’t figure out who
did it, more murders may be yet to come…
The Hollidaysburg Area Repertory Players put on this show in
their spacious high school theatre nestled within the picturesque town of
Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. The players are led by Zach Weirich and Lindsay
Satryan as Giles and Molly Ralston, the young couple who scarcely knew each
other when they tied the knot, and who are now taking on the added stress of
starting their new hotel business. You feel some tension and nervousness between
them from the beginning, but the stress is compounds dramatically as their
eccentric and irritating guests begin arriving. And, of course, even more so
when the murder takes place. Lindsay imbues her character with good, youthful
vulnerability and just enough courage to stand up for those who need her help.
As Giles, Zach is compelling throughout as his patience runs thin and the
pressure builds.
And then there are the guests who are wearing on Giles’
patience. Sarah Gore deftly amuses as the exotic and flamboyant
Paravicini who clearly is enjoying the crisis, or at least enjoying the novelty
of the crisis, as it deepens and darkens. Sarah Averill nicely captures
the other end of the spectrum as Miss Casewell, an intelligent yet mysteriously
aloof young woman. Sean Wilson is Christopher Wren, his body language,
speech, and mannerisms helping to create the socially awkward character who is
finding it difficult to fit in with the world – a young man who is still lost
in a difficult childhood. Mike Rupp is Major Metcalf, the seemingly
normal one in the group. Emily Rickens is perfectly obnoxious as the
ever-complaining Mrs. Boyle who quickly irritates almost everyone. No one sheds
many tears when she is discovered dead. CJ Buskey is the eager detective
who skis in to the manor with the dire warning that someone there may be a
murderer, and then grows manically obsessed with exposing the killer.
Director Russell Stiles’ show flows smoothly
and the ensembles work well together in creating the tension and confusion of
strangers held captive together. They also do quite well in maintaining their
various English accents. It all takes place within an impressive set – the
interior of a large, comfortable English home that is about to turn into a very
large, uncomfortable English mousetrap.
Performed February 28 - March 1, 2008.
Rob Hopper
Executive Director
National Youth Theatre
~ Cast ~
Molly Ralston: Lindsay Satryan
Giles Ralston: Zach Weirich
Christopher Wren: Sean Wilson
Mrs. Boyle: Emily Rickens
Major Metcalf: Mike Rupp
Miss Casewell: Sarah Averill
Mr. Paravicini: Sarah Gore
Detective Sergeant Trotter: CJ Buskey
Voice on the Radio: Derrick Fogle
Director: Russell Stiles
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