By Michelle Fowler
On opening night, the audience was delighted and captivated by the whodunit mystery The Mousetrap, produced by The Old Grantsville Church Dinner Theatre. The talented cast does a great job weaving the tale, leaving each person guessing and then second guessing the answer to the plot’s mystery. Written by the famed Agatha Christie, The Mousetrap transports you to a winter landscape where guests have arrived at a new bed-and-breakfast just before the weather closes down all roads – and possible routes of escape along with them. It’s not long before it’s clear that the house occupants may be in imminent danger.
The house is owned by Giles (Weston Miles) and Mollie Ralston (Celia Hart). Married for merely a year, the two have decided to open their home to others – in exchange for money, of course. Hart is a delight to watch on stage. The British accent that she employs is easy to understand, displaying her skills as an actor. W Miles pairs well with Hart, playing the dutiful husband to a T.
Each guest that the couple has agreed to allow into their home has his or her own idiosyncrasies that add to the group dynamic. Christopher Wren (Berkely Swarthout) is first to arrive. Swarthout displays thoughtfulness in his acting through the choices he makes delivering his lines and reacting to the other characters around him.
Carina Dillon has the challenge to bring a high level of energy to her character, Mrs. Boyle, who is the second guest to arrive. Mrs. Boyle is very outspoken and isn’t afraid to criticize her hosts both to their faces and behind their backs. Dillon provides an air of superiority to the character, which doesn’t slip for a moment onstage.
Major Metcalf (Jesse Martinson) arrives at the same time as Mrs. Boyle. A much more down-to-earth type character, the Major is able to bring some balance to the house full of unconventional personalities. Martinson is an excellent choice for this role as he is able to command a level of quiet respect that matches his character.
The final guest to arrive is Miss Casewell (Angela Dexheimer) who enters with a beautiful smile. She is the most pleasant of the guests, which made Dexheimer a pleasure to watch as well. Dexheimer has some comedic lines that she is able to deliver with the right timing to get the audience laughing. Her ability to understand and deliver her lines precisely helps the pacing of the show.
Kelly Wanberg was the only actor to have a non-British accent. K Wanberg plays an uninvited guest, Mr. Paravicini, an Italian traveling through town. Having had an accident in the snow, Mr. Paravacini happens upon the house by chance. K Wanberg uses the critical skill of reacting masterfully. Many times throughout the play his reactions to the main action onstage are remarkable.
One additional character arrives, but this time it’s not a guest, but a member of the police: Detective Sergeant Trotter (Jeff Andrews) who suspects that the house occupants may be in danger, perhaps even from each other. Trotter serves to provide exposition and leads the action after his arrival in order to investigate his suspicions. Andrews is able to capture the authority needed for this character and move the story along with some difficult monologues.
All of the actors come together to tell a suspenseful story. Director Macae Wanberg, and Assistant Director Zana Miles, provide great direction to the actors. M Wanberg tackles the challenge of blocking the actors on the small church stage well. She finds a way to create space for each actor to occupy and move about, even when all eight characters are onstage at the same time.
Visually, the set is well constructed. K Wanberg and W Miles take responsibility for the beautiful set construction while M Wanberg and Courtney Jorgensen have credit for the painting and design of the set. The set pieces help bring a reality to the front room of the bed-and-breakfast house. Outside the window there is a gorgeous snowscape painting by Hart. Costumes are credited to the cast and are quite well thought out. I especially enjoyed Hart’s first costume and Dexheimer’s ensemble with the suspenders.
The production utilizes both stage lighting and some lamps onstage as well. Be aware that there will be a few complete blackouts during the show. When lighting is restored, it is fairly abrupt. If you are sensitive to light, you may wish to close your eyes during the blackout to decrease the impact of the lights returning. Lighting technicians are also credited as the sound technicians: Alisha Sheets, Ann Marie Sheets, Michael Sheets, Mark Sheets, and Mat Sheets. Each actor has a body mic and the sound technicians ensure that you can hear them loudly and clearly through the speakers. They also ensure the right mood music accompanies the actors in the most suspenseful moments. The music they use to enhance the suspense is composed by Jace Krogh.
If you enjoy a good mystery, join the Old Grantsville Church Dinner Theatre this weekend. Come by Friday or Saturday to get both dinner and a show. The Mousetrap will have you guessing whodunit from the beginning to the end. You’ll question if what you saw was a clue, or just a red herring. You’ll never know for certain what clues matter most until the mystery is revealed at the conclusion of this exciting tale. If you’re ready to see if you have what it takes to be a detective, you won’t want to miss The Mousetrap in Grantsville.
Old Grantsville Church Dinner Theatre presents The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie
The Old Grantsville Church, 297 W Clark St, Grantsville, Utah 84029
February 8-9 6:30 PM, February 11, 2019 7:00 PM
Tickets: $20 with Dinner, or $7-$10 on February 11 without Dinner
Contact: 435-241-8131
The Mousetrap Facebook Event
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