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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><b style><span style="color:windowtext">Classic
MOUSETRAP, a mystery that is fun at Great Lakes Theatre; </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">Roy Berko</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:windowtext">(Member, American Theatre
Critics Association and Cleveland Critics Circle)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">During the pre-talk of the opening night production
of THE MOUSETRAP, William Fee, Great Lakes Theatre’s Producing Artistic
Director, shared that when the company was designing the 2011-2012 season, they
wanted to add a different dimension to their offerings.<span style> </span>The show selected had to take a diverse
approach to the usual offerings, but retain the theatre’s classic tradition.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">When someone suggested Agatha Christie’s THE
MOUSETRAP, the play that opened in 1952, and is still running in London, making
it the longest running theatrical production in the history of modern theatre,
everyone laughed.<span style> </span>It’s an old warhorse
that everyone has seen.<span style> </span>Not
quite.<span style> </span>When a poll was taken of
the laughers, all theatre experts, not one had ever seen a professional
production of the show. And, no one had seen a movie version of the
script.<span style> </span>Of course not.<span style> </span>The permission agreement states that no
movie will be made until the show ends its London run. Interest was peaked and
a decision was made to produce the show.<span style>
</span>Easier said then done.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">As Fee found when he tried to get only one
professional production a year is authorized.<span style> </span>But, since it is the 60<sup>th</sup> anniversary of
the show, which was originally written as a radio play in 1947, in honor of
Queen Mary’s 80<sup>th</sup> birthday, the producers are allowing 60 world-wide
professional stagings.<span style> </span>GLT was
fortunate to get one of the agreements. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">Several other interesting tidbits surround the
history of the show.<span style> </span>Christie’s
grandson was born on the day the play opened.<span style> </span>As a birth present the author granted him full royalties to
the script.<span style> </span>That means that all of
the pounds and dollars in income that have been made, have gone to the future millionaire
in swaddling clothes.<span style> </span><span style> </span>That’s one great present from gram!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">THE MOUSTRAP, which was originally entitled THREE
BLIND MICE, was a bold play for its time.<span style>
</span>It was not only a fascinating who-done-it, with a great twist at the
end, but it is a well crafted piece in which clues are dropped continually that
lead to the revelation of the murderer.<span style>
</span>It is a mystery that probes what fear does to people and what happens
when people are crowded together.<span style>
</span>It is also a play that, because it was not written to be performed, but
read on radio, has dialogue that is often hard to act.<span style> </span>It has its own texture and word puzzles,
and the action has to be created by the director to make it visual rather than imagined.
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">At
the start of the play, a woman is killed by someone whose identity is shrouded
by a hat, coat and scarf.<span style> </span>Who is
this killer?<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">The
scene shifts to </span><span style="color:windowtext">Monkswell Manor, outside of London, where a group of
supposedly randomly assembled people gather.<span style> </span>Those present are the proprietors of a newly opened English
guest house, five visitors, and a detective who arrives in order to protect the
residents from the London killer who, it is reported, has a connection to one
or more of those at the manor.<span style> </span>Hmmm!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">A snow storm rages outside so no one can come or
go.<span style> </span>The telephones stop working.<span style> </span>One person is killed.<span style> </span>There is fear for the death of
more.<span style> </span>The audience spends its time
trying to grasp the clues as to the identity of the murder!<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">Who
did it?<span style> </span>Since there is no butler,
that option is erased. I know, but I’m not telling.<span style> </span>You won’t either if you attend the GLT production.<span style> </span>At the end of the show you will be
sworn to secrecy, just as all audiences have in the 60 year run of the
script.<span style> </span>What happens if you tell
the untellable?<span style> </span>No one knows, but,
are you willing to tempt the fates?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">The
GLT production, under the direction of Drew Barr, is generally good.<span style> </span>The pacing is a little slow, the set is
somewhat disconcerting with the entrance areas confusing and a room filled with
unexplained radios which dominates the stage, is a distraction.<span style> </span>On the other hand, the acting is
excellent, the sound effects add to the mystery, and the incidental music and
lighting effects help build the tension.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">David
O’Byrne steals the show as the flighty, affected Christopher Wren.<span style> </span>He is a total delight.<span style> </span>Laura Perrotta makes the uptight,
complaining Mrs. Boyle, a former judge, a figure to be reckoned with.<span style> </span>Fine performance here!<span style> </span>Sara Bruner, as the mannish Miss
Casewell; Aled Davis, as the attentive Major Metcalf; Jodi Dominick, as Mollie
Ralston, the owner of the manor; Tom Ford as Mr. Paravicini, he of fake Italian
accent (hmm!); Dan Lawrence, as intense Detective Sergeant Trotter; and Paul
Hurley as Mollie’s suspicious husband, are all excellent.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-autospace:none"><i style><span style="color:windowtext">Capsule judgement:<span style> </span>THE MOUSETRAP is a classic British murder
mystery that gets a good performance at Great Lakes Theatre and deserves to be
seen.<span style> </span>It is one of your only
opportunities, unless you go to London, to experience the creative genius of
Agatha Christie’s script in a professional setting.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext">-----------------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style>Staged reading of
HOUSE, DIVIDED</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Interplay Jewish Theatre presents a staged reading of HOUSE,
DIVIDED, a new drama by Larry Loebell on Sunday, March 25 at Dobama Theatre,
2340 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights. <span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style""><span style> </span>The
play is a timely and challenging exploration of faith, family and politics –
and our collective failure to consider other points of view. The playwright
will conduct a discussion following the performance.<span style> </span>Admission is free, donations will be accepted.<span style> </span>Reservations are requested:<span style> </span><a href="mailto:interplayjewishtheatre@gmail.com">interplayjewishtheatre@gmail.com</a> or
216-210-3150.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-autospace:none"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-autospace:none"><i style><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old Style";color:#c0504d">Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from
2001 through 2012, can be found at <span style><span style><a href="http://www.royberko.info">www.royberko.info</a></span></span>. His reviews
and commentary can also be found on <span style><span style><a href="http://www.coolcleveland.com">www.coolcleveland.com</a></span></span> and
www.NeOHIOpal, Broadwaynews.com and ArtsAmerica.org.</span></i><span style="color:windowtext"></span></p>