BIDDEFORD — “The Mousetrap,” a play by mystery writer Agatha Christie, opened the 2014-15 season at City Theater Oct. 23.
This show has been playing continuously in London’s West End for the past 62 years, making it the longest running play in recorded history. Linda Sturdivant, artistic director of the theater, welcomed the audience prior to the show and among other things observed that she was grateful for the “fabulous set.”
In fact, while there was only one set, the stage was tastefully furnished from one end to the other and included a working fireplace, several swinging doors, a set of drapes in front of french windows, paintings, club chairs, a desk and a staircase. Also on the right side of the stage, there was a radio that played the symbolic theme of “Three Blind Mice.”
The first act has two scenes, and the second but one. Like the other members of the audience, I was requested not to reveal “who done it.” The pace of the first scene unfolds as slowly as the first movement of a Bruckner Symphony. Patience is not a common commodity these days; witness the 30-second (or less) commercials on TV. However, if one is patient, one can’t help but admire the careful unfolding of the plot and the way suspicion of the murderer is placed on each character in the play; actually there are two murders, but one occurs before the start of the play.
Giles Ralston, played by Charlie Cole, is the husband of Mollie Ralston, played by Rebecca Cole, the proprietors of Monkswell Manor, a guest house. Charlie Cole, in his appearance and manor of speech, reminded me more than once of Anthony Hopkins. However, one should note that the latter’s speech is clearer, notwithstanding his English accent.
Rebecca Cole artfully displays a variety of emotions ”“ ranging from affectionate wife, as Mollie Ralston, to terrorized proprietor. Her scream at the end of the first act is about as authentic as one could imagine it should have been on seeing a corpse.
One of the guests is Christopher Wren, played by Andrew Lamb, who has something called stage presence. He plays the part of an emotionally distraught young man with distinction. One does not believe that he is simply reciting lines in a play.
Other characters of the newly arrived guests include: Mrs. Boyle (Ellen Wassell), an embittered woman; Major Metcalf (Timothy James), a pipe smoking army major; Miss Caswell (Kelsey Camire), a cigarette smoking “with it” young woman; Mr. Paravancini (Tad Williams), an Italian visitor whose car broke down in the snowstorm near the inn; and Detective Sgt. Trotter (Kirk Boettcher), sent to the inn because it was named on a note left on the first victim by the murderer. Each of these performers are convincing in their stereotyped roles, especially Williams. Sturdivant had the characters moving to prevent the action from ever getting static, and Karl Carrigan deserves appropriate credit for his tasteful set.
While the story started slowly, one appreciated the care with which Christie set the action that made the second act as gripping as it was. If one enjoys an honest-to-goodness murder mystery, this is the show for you to see.
The show continues through Nov. 2 with performances on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. All tickets are $20 and are available at www.citytheater.org or by calling 282-0849.
— Dr. Gold is a composer/conductor and is an arts reviewer for the Journal Tribune.
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