By Katherine Beeson
The queen of murder mysteries, Agatha Christie, wrote a thriller so popular that it opened in London in 1952 and (except for the Covid break) has been running ever since!
Rumor has it that if cab drivers did not get adequate tips from riders going to the theater, they would yell out the name of the murderer as they drove away.
That play is “The Mousetrap” and Next Act Theatre is presenting this who-dun-it to Milwaukee audiences.
Christie’s approach is very formulaic – Monkswell Manor house, horrible weather, plethora of guests trapped with no means of communication – and a possible murderer among them. That being said, it is still a lot of fun to watch what happens.
Over the wireless, the guests hear about a “homicidal maniac” on the loose and the person’s description could fit almost everyone in the house. A police official calls to say he is sending over a sergeant to question the guests because a notebook left by the killer lists two addresses – that of the murdered woman and Monkswell Manor. The phone lines soon go down and…
This is an ensemble cast with a number of standouts. Rudy Galvan is a delight as Christopher Wren and Casey Hoekstra plays Sergeant Trotter with intense energy as he works to find out secrets and solve the crime.
The scenic design of Monkswell Manor was impressive (Lisa Schlenker) and costumes (Jason Orlenko) were striking.
“The Mousetrap” is directed by Mary Macdonald Kerr and runs through December 17.