WWCA opens season with cozy murder mystery by Agatha Christie
Published 4:00 pm Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Continuously playing since its premiere in 1952, Agatha Christie’s theatrical masterpiece “The Mousetrap” has earned the distinction of the longest running play in the world.
With an estimated 23,000 performances in more than 20 countries, that accolade is impressive, but not all that shocking when you consider the author — deemed by many the most popular novelist in history and etched into the Guinness Book of World Records as bestselling author with more than two billion copies sold conservatively.
And it continues to this day.
As does the show.
Port Orchard’s Western Washington Center for the Arts theatre premiered its take on “The Mousetrap” last Friday. And anyone who was at the opening must, repeat must, keep their mouths shut concerning whodunit. More than 10 million people from audiences around the world have been instructed to do the same so the story can retain its shock value for the few people left on Earth who have yet to see the play’s twisted ending.
Especially for those in Kitsap falling into the latter camp, the show will be on the boards at WWCA through Oct. 21 with curtains at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 5 p.m. Sundays.
Unfortunately, those who missed opening night, also missed an event featuring wine and cheese and a chat with director Liam Sanchez.
Luckily, however, What’s Up was able to catch up with the man and get a few of his thoughts on the Christie classic and his first directing role at WWCA.
(Also lucky for those who missed opening night, there will be another wine and cheese event prior to the show at 6:45 p.m. Oct. 12, though we’re not sure whether or not Sanchez will be there to chat.)
“One reason I know I would come to see the show is that I love mystery,” the director said. “I watch all the old-school shows from the BBC, and I’m just about to dig up some ‘Columbo’ to introduce my kids to.”
That fascination and knowledge was probably one of the chief factors in WWCA pegging Sanchez for the directorship. While this is his first time in the director’s chair since quarterbacking a 1995 original production in California, Sanchez has acted in a few roles for WWCA, most recently in “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).”
He noted that stepping into the control room for this Christie production was a little bit eerie. The players in the cast came together almost as serendipitously as the characters in one of Christie’s crime novels.
“When I had my first casting call … one guy showed up,” Sanchez said. “Then all of these people just sort of rolled in … these people were sent to me.”
Most uniquely, during one summer evening rehearsal, South Kitsap High Schooler Josh Barnard showed up at WWCA’s front door, asking if there was anything he could help out with. Sanchez suggested that he come read for a part and ended up casting the kid as a hyperactive and peculiar young man, the first guest to arrive at the hotel in the play — Christopher Wren.
Then there is also a slue of WWCA first-timers in this production like Kitsap thespian veterans Rhonda Romaine, who’s cast as a wonderfully creepy spinster in the role of Miss Casewell and Cathy Matters who plays the always-dissatisfied grumpy old Mrs. Boyle.
Stephanie Ronge and Ryan Scott play the fledging hoteliers Mollie and Giles Ralston, while Rick Swan is the other expected guest Major Metcalf.
After everyone has arrived, a boisterous unexpected guest, Mr. Paravicini (played by Matthew Tumaliuan) comes to the hotel after having crashed his car into a snowdrift — one of the signs that all the guests will soon be snowed in at the hotel.
Then shortly thereafter town detective Sergeant Trotter (played by Ray Deuel, who some may remember from last season’s “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”) arrives by skis to inform the group that he believes a murderer might be on its way to the hotel.
Enter suspense as some guests’ lives begin to desist and fear and blame begin to rage.
“The Mousetrap” written by Agatha Christie will be showing at WWCA through Oct. 21 with curtains at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 5 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $15 general, $12 seniors, $10 youth and active military, $5 students. The theater is located at 521 Bay St. in Port Orchard. Info: www.wwca.us or call (360) 769-SHOW.
