About Cortland Repertory Theatre
CRT Presents the Classic Mystery The Mousetrap
CCortland Repertory Theatre continues its 2008 Mainstage Season with murder, thrills and intrigue! From July 2 to July 12, CRT presents their production of the longest running play of all time The Mousetrap written by the grand dame of thrillers, Agatha Christie. Producing Artistic Director Kerby Thompson notes that the last time CRT produced this play was in 1987 and he felt it was time for a “revival.” “This play is a classic, and it still thrills audiences through the whole evening,” Thompson says. “The amazing success of it’s 56 year run in London - and it is still going strong - speaks volumes to the excellent writing of the piece.” Directing the CRT production is Jim Bumgardner, who serves as Thompson’s Artistic Assistant in show selection, casting and technical designs. Bumgardner directs one show every summer at CRT, with previous accomplishments including Fiddler on the Roof, Moonlight and Magnolias, South Pacific and Deathtrap. “Jim is invaluable to CRT not only in his direction, but also his scenic designs, of which he does at least one each year.” This year, Bumgardner will be the scenic designer for the upcoming production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
The Mousetrap began originally as a radio play in 1952 which was broadcast by the BBC with the title Three Blind Mice. The radio play had been commissioned in 1947 by Queen Mary, who was a Christie fan. The forty-five minute play was based on a short story on which Christie had been working; however, audience reaction was so positive that Christie went back to work on the script, elaborating on it, and with its first performance on October 6, 1952, The Mousetrap became a stage play. After a seven-week tour, the play opened in London at The Ambassadors Theatre on November 25, 1952. The play later transferred to St. Martin's Theatre in London on March 23, 1974 and has been running there ever since. The Mousetrap has broken several records for its continuous theatrical run since its opening, and it is estimated that more than four million people had seen the play by the time its twenty-five year anniversary was celebrated in 1977. After another thirty years of performances it is safe to speculate that an additional four to five million people have probably sat in the dark and tried to puzzle out the identity of the murderer. Performances of The Mousetrap continue to benefit from tourists who seek out the play both for its artistic merits and for the joy of being part of a theatrical tradition. Christie signed over the royalties from the play to her grandson at its opening in 1952. It is thought that he has become a multimillionaire from the royalties of this one property alone.
In the play, a group of strangers find themselves stranded in a boarding house during a snow storm. Unexpectedly, a policeman on skis appears, hot on the trail of a murderer who must be hiding in the house. Are the newlyweds guilty, or is it the spinster with a curious background? What about the wild young architect, the Army major, or the strange little man who claims his car has overturned in a drift? As the policeman probes the guest’s backgrounds and rattles their skeletons, the murderer strikes again! Will they find out “whodunit” before it’s too late? Christie’s clever writing mixed with CRT’s intimate theatre space is guaranteed to keep the audience on the edge of their seats to the final curtain.
As with all the shows this summer, Thompson and Bumgardner have cast a mix of familiar faces to CRT audiences as well as new talent. Returning actors include Sonya Cooke, who worked as a performing intern in 2005 and appeared in CRT’s record breaking run of Over the River and Through the Woods. Cooke stars as Mollie Ralston, the young newlywed running a guest inn with her husband Giles, played by Leigh Wakeford who was just recently seen in 8 Track. Another 8 Track cast member, Katherine Proctor also stars as Miss Casewell. Dustin Charles, as Detective Trotter, returns to CRT for his second Christie mystery and fifth CRT production, which includes last season’s How the Other Half Loves and Almost Maine. Joining them is Robbeye Lewis as Mrs. Boyle, who is currently appearing in Leading Ladies. Making their CRT debut are newcomers Joshua Forecum as Christopher Wren, Michael Kruetz as Mr. Paravincini, and Gerard Pauwels as Major Metcalf .
The design elements are handled also by a mix of CRT alumni and newcomers, with scenic design by Carl Tallent, who designed last summer’s Fiddler on the Roof, and costume design by Jennifer Parr, who is in her third summer and sixth show at CRT. Lighting design is by Todd Proffitt, sound design by Andrew Modansky and properties by season designer Rob Peck. Stage manager is Jessica Mykins, who handled the management duties of 8 Track earlier this summer.
The Mousetrap will be presented at the Edward Jones Playhouse, CRT’s home in Dwyer Memorial Park from July 2nd through July 12th. Season Benefactor McNeil and Company is joined for this production by show sponsors Alliance Bank and Pall Cortland, show underwriter WRVO FM, and show partner Ames Linen Service. Parking is free, and the theatre is handicapped accessible and air conditioned. Tickets may be purchased at the CRT Box Office at 37 Franklin Street in Cortland, by calling 800-427-6160 or online at www.cortlandrep.org. For more information about any of CRT’s shows or programming, please visit www.cortlandrep.org.
In photo, L-R: Dustin Charles as Detective Sergeant Trotter, Sonya Cooke as Mollie Ralston, Leigh Wakeford as Giles Ralston and Katherine Proctor as Miss Casewell.