Wonderful Escapist Entertainment

The Mousetrap – Court Theatre

The Granddaddy of all theatrical chillers, Agatha Christie’s most famous murder mystery is still playing 68 years later in London’s West End. It has the distinction of being the longest running modern play. With well over 30,000 performances to its credit, Ms. Christie’s crime drama is a favorite with regional and educational theatres alike. The Guinness Book of World Records calls Dame Agatha Christie the best-selling crime novelist of all time, but in 1930 she began a second career as a successful playwright. From over a dozen scripts, which include “Ten Little Indians” (or its original title “And Then There Were None”) and “Witness for the Prosecution,” it’s “The Mousetrap” that remains Agatha Christie’s most popular theatrical work.

The Queen of Crime employed a number of plot devices in her works that have since become almost cliche. She had a fondness for ironically naming her plays and novels after innocent children’s nursery rhymes (“The Mousetrap” was originally entitled “Three Blind Mice”). The stories usually unfold with a murder being committed, several suspects possessing hidden information being assembled and a detective gradually discovering and revealing these confidences during the course of an evening. Surprising twists are uncovered and, most often, the unlikeliest character turns out to be the culprit.

The Court Theatre continues its 2019/2020 season with the welcome return of talented director Sean Graney, who’s orchestrated a fresh, fast-paced version of this classic melodrama that makes it feel like a brand new play. Working upon Arnel Sanciano’s detailed, textured, authentic-looking English guesthouse stage setting, dominated by a winding staircase, a two-story stone fireplace and towering paned window that looks out onto a freezing blizzard, Mr. Graney has a period playground for his cat-and-mouse caper. He’s cleverly guided his characters through doorways and hidden staircases that lead to an assortment of unseen alcoves and rooms. Delightful details, like an offstage playing piano, a clanking heating system and the constantly falling snow add so much realism to Graney’s production. Alison Siple’s colorful, multi-patterned 1950’s period costumes are fun and set the tone for this unique approach to Christie’s murder mystery. She’s appropriately created layered wardrobes for winter wear, while also creating a visual metaphor to reflect the hidden secrets that each character is hiding.

A truly magnificent cast has mined every trick and subtlety from their characters. As Mollie and Giles Ralston, the newlywed English couple trying to turn a creaky old, inherited country home into a guesthouse, Kate Fry and Allen Gilmore are excellent and impressive. Very convincing as a young couple still in love, but who are constantly discovering new things about each other, these two gifted actors created two layered individuals. They argue and disagree about how to keep their hotel patrons satisfied, especially when their guesthouse is rumored to have a connection to a recent murder. 

The ensemble of guests who check into Monkswell Manor are an eclectic group of individuals. Alex Goodrich, an actor for all seasons, whose many talents have been enjoyed at Chicago Shakespeare, Writers, Northlight and the Marriott Theatre, to name just a few, dazzles as quirky Christopher Wren. He plays a mysteriously bizarre, hyperactive man-boy who seems reluctant to grow up. David Cerda, the handsome character actor and brilliant creative force behind Hell in a Handbag Productions, is over-the-top excellent as the unfathomable, unexpected Italian guest, Mr. Paravicini.

Making his Court Theatre debut, talented actor Lyonel Reneau is stalwart, grounded, dignified and unruffled as Major Metcalf. Carolyn Ann Hoerdemann is superb as snooty, scornful, surly hotel guest, Mrs. Boyle. Tina Munoz Pandya radiates strength, an aptitude for taking charge, while offering a mysterious, vulnerable quality to Miss Casewell. And Erik Hellman is, as always, absolutely brilliant as a sprightly, unflagging Detective Sergeant Trotter, the officer sent upon skis to brave the elements and search for a possible murderer at Monkswell Manor.

This production is cheeky, somewhat campy and quite simply a whole lot of fun. Sean Graney helps audiences escape from their own troubles and immerses each theatergoer in a world of suspense and unexpected comedy. His production is populated by eccentric characters, each of whom is hiding a dark secret from themselves and each other. A welcome change from the Court Theatre’s typical fare, Agatha Christie’s classic murder mystery takes place in the dead of winter, at a remote, rural retreat. This wonderful escapist entertainment is peppered with humor, startling plot twists, charismatic characters and just the right amount of determination necessary to catch a psychopathic killer.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented January 16-February 16 by the Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago.

Tickets are available at the theatre box office, by calling 773-753-4472 or by going to www.CourtTheatre.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.