Court Theatre Presents THE MOUSETRAP Review — Christie Gone Camp

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After a humorous turn off your cellphone message worthy of a Chicago’s Greatest Hits compilation of such, the stately parlor set (Scenic Designer: Arnel Sancianco) comes alive with husband and wife (Giles Ralston played by Allen Gilmore and Mollie Ralston played by Kate Fry) readying their mansion for its first turn as a guest house.  They are each nervous in their own way. Giles inserts the question  any proprietor of a hotel imagined by murder mystery master Agatha Christie should ask. To paraphrase-- Perhaps they should have vetted their guests a tad more before booking their stays??

Court Theatre THE MOUSETRAP
Tina Muñoz Pandya, Carolyn Ann Hoerdemann.

Court Theatre Enlists Tragicomedy Master

Then these guests begin to arrive, in wardrobes (Costume Design: Alison Siple) that telegraph what Director Sean Graney has in mind for us.  Improbably named Christopher Wren (Alex Goodrich) barges in like a golfer who orange-dyed his green garb to create a new kind of clown chic matching his bozo-with-a-part coif.  Then—before Carolyn Ann Hoerdemann as Mrs. Boyle utters her first complaint to quickly establish herself as the kvetch all love to hate—her leopard couture with vintage winged eyeglasses loudly confirms what we suspected after meeting Wren---THIS IS AGATHA CHRISTIE RE-IMAGINED THROUGH THE CAMPIEST OF CAMP LENSES. This writer imagines the fun that follows is possible only because Court enlisted tragicomedic master Graney—most known for his 12-hour distillation of all the Greek Tragedies (All My Tragic)— to envision and deliver this circa now update to Christie’s classic.

Court Theatre THE MOUSETRAP
David Cerda, Allen Gilmore, Kate Fry.

Agatha Christie’s script gives Graney —and the many dozens (hundreds?) —of global productions since its opening —a lot with which to work.  How sly of Christie to make Mrs. Boyle’s chief complaint that any proper guesthouse would have servants.  After all, don’t we know that in the end it is always the butler who did it? NO SPOILERS HERE!  You’ll have to banish yourself to a few hours of pure enjoyment to get to the bottom of this whodunit.  In this writer’s view, you will be no worse for the wear.  Do it!

Court Theatre THE MOUSETRAP
Kate Fry, Allen Gilmore.
Court Theatre THE MOUSETRAP
The cast of The Mousetrap.

If you too admire perfect timing, this production is a jewel that will dazzle.  These are pro actors —all— who tease us in that sacred space where over-the-top co-mingles with believable.  It helps that Graney stages what might be word-heavy scenes with antics like having the characters go for the candy bowl and wrap, unwrap, chomp, spit and swallow candies as if they are percussion accents to the violin voices.    For Chicago theater-regulars and devotees of Hell in a Handbag productions, it surprises that no-stranger-to-drag-queen-shtick David Cerda is perhaps one of the most subdued characters on the stage, perhaps because this role comes without stilettos.  Don’t read this implying he disappoints—he’s just tuning his instrument differently, and making room for all in the cast to get in on the farcical fun.

The Mousetrap, we learn from the program notes, is the longest running play in London, opened on November 25, 1952, and still going!  Barely a week after it opened, a smog settled on London that killed thousands.  Who wouldn’t have needed the escape of an entertaining night of theater that Christie’s script provides?  Who doesn’t need it now as a chaser to the drone of impeachment hearings we fear are going nowhere?

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Title: The Mousetrap
By: Agatha Christie
Directed by: Sean Graney

Cast:

David Cerda (Mr. Paravicini), Kate Fry (Mollie Ralston), Allen Gilmore (Giles Ralston), Alex Goodrich (Christopher Wren), Erik Hellman (Detective Sergeant Trotter), Tina Muñoz Pandya (Miss Casewell), Lyonel Reneau (Major Metcalf), and Carolyn Ann Hoerdemann (Mrs. Boyle)

Creative Team:

Arnel Sancianco (Scenic Design), Alison Siple (Costume Design), Claire Chrzan (Lighting Design), Kevin O’Donnell (Sound Design), Eva Breneman (Dialect Design), Jaq Seifert (Fight Choreography and Intimacy), Derek Matson (Production Dramaturg), and Erin Albretcht (Production Stage Manager)

When:

Thru February 16, 2020

Wed/Thurs/Fri: 7:30 p.m.
Sat/Sun: 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Where:

Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave.

Tickets:

$37.50

Check for Half-Price Deals from Hot Tix:

For full-priced tickets and ticket availability information visit the Court Theatre website or call - (773) 753-4472

Photos by Michael Brosilow

Note: Picture This Post reviews are excerpted by Theatre in Chicago

Amy Munice

About the Author: Amy Munice

Amy Munice is Editor-in-Chief and Co-Publisher of Picture This Post. She covers books, dance, film, theater, music, museums and travel. Prior to founding Picture This Post, Amy was a freelance writer and global PR specialist for decades—writing and ghostwriting thousands of articles and promotional communications on a wide range of technical and not-so-technical topics.

Amy hopes the magazine’s click-a-picture-to-read-a-vivid-account format will nourish those ever hunting for under-discovered cultural treasures. She especially loves writing articles about travel finds, showcasing works by cultural warriors of a progressive bent, and shining a light on bold, creative strokes by fledgling artists in all genres.

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