Agatha Christie might not ring any bells. Or perhaps her name conjures up dark hallways filled with cobwebs and stories of intrigue galore. Personally, Agatha Christie reminds me of my grandfather and the stacks and stacks of her books in his library. Christie is the cooler older sister Nancy Drew wishes she had. Her mysteries are old-school classics. Think Scooby Doo without the goofiness or James Bond minus the guns. Christie wrote books that made you think you knew the villain until the last chapter.
If there’s no time in your busy schedule to read an entire book, check out Theatre Oxford’s newest play, Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap.” Check all your preconceived notions at the door. “The Mousetrap” is the longest-running play and for good reason. After premiering in March 1952, the play has run continuously on the West End in London, England’s equivalent to Broadway. That’s 64 years “The Mousetrap” has entertained audiences, concealing the murder until the very last second. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is an underwhelming mystery solved from a mile away. Of course the setting is a household of strangers stranded in a boarding house during a snowstorm, but the character development throughout the play is what makes this story unique.
To modernize the play, Theatre Oxford’s Greg Earnest says that even though the play takes place in an English manor, the play is “set in present day,” and “the actors won’t be using accents.”
“(‘The Mousetrap’) is the first murder mystery we’ve done,” Earnest said. “The board decided to do this one due to its popularity, author and longevity on stage.”
The brief time in between Thanksgiving and Winter break can feel packed and full of stress. The countdown to finals can consume even the most prepared students. Netflix and finals go hand and hand, but try live theatre out for a change. Theatre can “transport us from the busy, ordinary lives we deal with to a different place and time,” Earnest says. “Live theatre is more entertaining than most of the films that play at the movie theaters nowadays.”
The premise of the story is nothing new. However, its Christie’s ability to keep the audience guessing that has made this play a continual standout. When one occupant of the boarding house, the most annoying one by far, turns up dead, it becomes a proper murder mystery. This classic whodunit turns these strangers against each other. Most dramatically, two newlyweds are forced to wonder, “Could my loved one be a murderer?”
Along with a modge podge of other characters, their backgrounds are examined by a newly arrived policeman. The seemingly normal individuals find themselves having to answer for past actions in a deadly quest to defend their innocence. For fans of intrigue or family drama, “The Mousetrap” is an absolute must. This play is for everyone who at some point or another in his or her life has looked around and wondered if you really know the people you love.
Sitting in the audience, you might think you know the facts, but just remember Christie is the eternal empress of mystery. This play hasn’t run continuously for 64 years because of the costumes. In the beginning, each character has a clearly defined personhood, but by the end his or her stereotypes are broken down. No one is safe, but someone is definitely guilty. This play will make you think and then question everything you’re sure you know. Yes, finals are around the corner, but take two hours to really think. Made famous in London, this fantastic play is finding new life at the Theatre Oxford. With showings four days straight, you are sure to have time to catch this play or return for seconds.
“The Mousetrap” will run today through Dec. 3 with nightly shows at 7:30 and Dec. 4 with one show at 2 p.m. All shows will be at the Powerhouse Community Arts Center.
