Whodunnit?
This is a question theatregoers will be challenged to answer when Shuswap Theatre’s upcoming production of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap opens on Nov. 8.
A group of seven strangers is snowed in at Monkswell Manor, a countryside guest house, when they learn of a murder in London. Horror-struck when a police sergeant arrives and reveals that one of them is the killer, all but one wonder who will be next and when.
One by one, the suspicious characters confront their sordid pasts. And as they reveal themselves, members of the audience can sort through the evidence to see if they can guess the identity of the killer.
“I love a good mystery and there are great characters,” said director Daniel Hall, who is new to Shuswap Theatre but has many years of experience in the theatre, and has seen the The Mousetrap in London, England three times. “There is nothing like a good Agatha Christie mystery, with well-grounded characters, a good plot and lots of twists and red herrings,”
While this is a mystery, with characters from the seamy side of life, as in any Agatha Christie work, there is always humour, he added.
Hall was a drama teacher in Calgary for 34 years and his students presented a major musical and major play every year.
“I absolutely loved being a theatre arts teacher,” he said. “The young people always amazed me by their motivation and dedication, and it was great to work with young people in a very positive way and see the outcome.”
Hall fondly recalls the last 13 years of his teaching career at Strathcona Tweedsmuir School where some 30 to 40 parents became very involved with building sets. He is still in touch with several of the parents and one couple are is driving to Salmon Arm to see the local production.
Hall and his wife have had a cottage in Sicamous for the past 28 years, spent a lot of time there during Covid, and decided to give up their Calgary home in favour of a permanent move to Sicamous two years ago.
Still bitten by the theatre bug, Hall approached Shuswap Theatre where he was invited to direct a play. He suggested The Mousetrap, and the play will be ready to open in a few weeks.
“It is a very generous group of people and I love being able to give back to theatre,” he said. “I think people will really enjoy the play.”
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.
The Mousetrap opens Nov. 8, with evening performance at 7:30 Friday and Saturday and a 1:30 p.m. matinee on Sunday. Performances the following week are at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16 and 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 17. The pay-what-you-can performance takes place Thursday, Nov. 21. Evening performances return Friday, Nov. 22 and Saturday at 7:30 and the run ends with a 1:30 p.m matinee performance on Nov. 24.
Tickets are available online at shuswaptheatre.ca and Choose Refill in the retail complex that includes Boston Pizza and H2O4U.
On Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m., theatre lovers are invited to attend the first play reading of the season. Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B is a darkly comic, modern take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous sleuth and his sidekick. Enjoy a fun evening of reading and discussion. Individuals may choose to read a part or just listen.
