A mystery unfolds in the snowy English countryside after a group of travelers become stranded at Monkswell Manor and a murder takes place.
Agatha Christie’s classic murder mystery play “The Mousetrap” took the stage at the Guthrie on March 15 and runs until the beginning of May. The play unfolds like a game of Clue as each bizarre character is introduced before a murder unfolds.
Christie’s “Three Blind Mice” was written in 1947 as a half-hour radio play for Queen Mary to commemorate her 80th birthday, according to Guthrie’s website. The stage play opened five years later on the West End.
The cast consists of eight characters, each playing a vital role in the unfolding mystery. Newlyweds Mollie and Giles Ralston, played by Monette Magrath and Peter Christian Hansen, opened the ancient Monkswell Manor as a guesthouse, welcoming their first group of travelers.
A young architecture student named Christopher Wren, played by Greg Cuellar, is the first to arrive and is quick to befriend Mollie. Mo Perry’s hyper-critical Mrs. Boyle follows, traveling with the warm Major Metcalf, played by Pearce Bunting. The three are then joined by Miss Casewell, a seemingly wealthy world traveler played by Emjoy Gavino.
The couple and their guests are soon joined by the eccentric Mr. Paravicini, played by Matthew Saldívar, who claims his car spun out in the snowstorm. The seven take shelter as the radio informs them a ghastly murderer is on the loose and may be heading their way. At the same time, Detective Sergeant Trotter arrives on skis for their protection, played by Matthew Amendt. His suspicions are confirmed as a guest is found dead within the manor and each character becomes a suspect.
Visitors are encouraged to solve the mystery alongside the characters with the hidden clues in each performance. The characters are richly performed by the cast, supported by the stunning set.
Each item and set decoration adds to the vibrancy of the archaic manor as it fights to stay warm despite the frigid temperatures. The lighting of the set creates a warm atmosphere while also highlighting clues in a comical way for the audience.
The highlight of the show, however, was the intermission.
The moment the actors left the stage, the theater came alive as audience members began to theorize the hidden killer or missed clues. Each group suggested a different suspect, highlighting micro actions or off-handed lines.
This sleuthing is encouraged in the playbill, as visitors can note clues and their suspicions until the final moment when the killer is revealed.
I wish I could tell you more, but past audiences are considered accessories to the mystery and are sworn to secrecy.
