Rehearsals are underway at the Sauk Theatre in Jonesville for the longest-running play in modern theater, Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap,” which opens on Oct. 15 at 8 p.m.
According to the show’s director, Kristin Hood, the Sauk puts on a mystery or thriller every fall, and Agatha Christie immediately came to her mind for this year. She said she chose “The Mousetrap” because it spoke to her the most.
“It kind of hits all the marks,” Hood said. “It’s really fun to direct and act in, and the audience will love it.”
Ken Washburn, who has been in theater for more than 30 years and will play the role of Christopher Wren for the second time in his career, said that everything has come together in recent rehearsals.
“It’s been a wonderful chemistry between everybody, and when we’re on, it’s beautiful,” he said. “Of course it’s rehearsals, we have our rough patches, but when everybody is on and it’s going, it feels amazing.”
Gracie Wilson, who plays the character of Mollie Ralston, said that memorizing lines written in Christie’s British tone and unique style is challenging.
“Agatha Christie doesn’t like to let you say the same thing over,” she said. “For example, I say ‘chicken wire’ three different ways. It’s been a challenge trying to keep those straight, but other than that, it’s a lot of fun.”
Because it is a murder mystery, the plot of “The Mousetrap” is top secret. In fact, audiences are traditionally asked to sign a waiver saying that they will not reveal the ending. Regardless, Hood is comfortable giving away the setting: eight people snowed into a country manor in London; and, of course, a murder.
In Agatha Christie fashion, the play’s dark material does not subdue its sharp wit.
“Even though it’s supposed to be this serious murder mystery, there’s a lot of humor in it. A lot of it’s the dry, British humor,” Washburn said. “It’s the seriousness that there’s been a murder, and you have to figure out who did it — but wait, that was kinda funny.”
“The Mousetrap” first opened in London in 1952, and the Sauk’s performance will share a special connection with that first performance. David Griffith, who designed, directed, and taught theater at Hillsdale College for 40 years until his retirement last year, created the set as an exact replica of the set which appeared on the London stage at the play’s debut.
Wilson said that these details and the mystery driving the play will engage audiences, making them feel involved in the story as it unfolds.
