Beatrice Zeilinger, Zander Eke, Charlie Gallant, Anthony Santiago and Melissa Oei in The Mousetrap, which runs to Aug. 24 at Arts Club Theatre’s Granville Island Stage. (photo from Moonrider Productions)
You would be hard-pressed to find someone who did not know who Agatha Christie was, the most prolific mystery writer of all time. She gave the world those iconic detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also gave us The Mousetrap, the longest-running play, having been presented at St. Martin’s in London’s West End for 73 years (with only a brief hiatus during the pandemic) with 30,000 performances and more than 10 million tickets sold.
The Mousetrap is the quintessential 1950s British whodunit, and Arts Club Theatre Company has brought the production to its Granville Island Stage so Vancouver audiences can be part of its legacy – which includes an audience promise to keep the identity of the murderer a secret.
The action takes place in a remote, snowbound English guest house, Monkswell Manor, run by newlyweds Mollie (Ming Hudson) and Giles Ralston (Jay Clift). Five guests arrive to stay for a weekend amid the news of a woman strangled 30 miles away in London. When Detective Sergeant Trotter (Charlie Gallant) arrives on skis to advise the vacationers that the murder is somehow connected to them and one of them could be next, suspicions and accusations abound.
The guests are a cross-section of eccentric characters, starting with the verbose but vulnerable Christopher Wren (Zander Eke), a young wannabe architect; demanding former magistrate, middle-aged Mrs. Boyle (Beatrice Zeilinger), for whom nothing is good enough; Miss Casewell (Melissa Oei), a diehard feminist; and the retired Major Metcalf (Anthony Santiago). Add to the mix the unexpected guest, foreigner Mr. Paravicini (Andrew McNee), whose Rolls Royce just happens to break down on the road leading to the manor, and the drama begins. Staircases are tramped, doors slammed, curtains yanked, phones go dead and, as the stage darkens, one of the guests is murdered in the parlour.
Trotter starts the usual questioning of all suspects – including the now cliché, “Where were you when the lights went out?” – and sets out to reconstruct the crime in the hope of trapping the murderer. Dribs and drabs of information trickle out regarding each of the guests’ pasts, confirming that any one of them could have “dunit” but who did do it? And it’s possible there could be a third murder – cue the children’s nursery tune “Three Blind Mice,” which hauntingly reverberates throughout the play.
This is a real ensemble cast and all the actors are terrific in their roles; all have mastered their English accents, which provides added authenticity to the production. However, special mention must be made of Gallant, as well as Eke, with his quirky mannerisms; McNee, with his Italian accent, whose witty comments inject light-hearted levity into what appears to be an ominous situation; and Hudson, with her quiet but determined demeanour as she strives to be the perfect hostess amid the chaos.
The set by Patrick Rizzotti is spot on as a posh country house, with its rich, brown wall paneling; large, curtained windows; an ornate chandelier; potted ferns; brick fireplace, with the obligatory roaring fire; and plush brocade furniture.
Jewish community member Itai Erdal’s lighting design spans the spectrum, from warm light to dark voids, providing the right mood for the right moments.
Nancy Bryant’s costumes reflect the classic elegance of the 1950s, with three-piece suits, long overcoats and fedoras for the men and tailored suits, dresses or pants for the women.
In a YouTube interview, director Stephen Drover said he wanted to keep the play as authentic as possible, without any adaptations, and so was just doing it as written. His advice to the audience: don’t just watch it, solve it. At the end of the play, one of the actors exhorts the audience to keep the murderer’s identity a secret so that others can have the experience of figuring out the puzzle.
I saw The Mousetrap at St. Martin’s in London 20 years ago and I can say that this production is just as good. You don’t have to go abroad to see good theatre. You can stay right here at home. The play has had its run extended to Aug. 24. Tickets can be purchased at artsclub.com or from the box office at 604-687-1644.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of history and enjoy an evening of gentle entertainment – and please remember to keep the ending a secret.
Tova Kornfeld is a Vancouver freelance writer and lawyer.
* * *
Fun facts about Mousetrap
The Mousetrap was originally written by Agatha Christie as a short radio production for Queen Mary’s 80th birthday in 1947, and titled Three Blind Mice.
Christie, when asked about The Mousetrap’s potential longevity, thought the play would only run for about six months before it closed.
Christie’s estate has a provision that no movie can be made of the play until it stops running in London. That may not happen for a very long time.
– TK