The Agatha Christie stalwart gets a bang-up production under the direction of Sam Gregory

There is nothing finer than an Agatha Christie whodunit.

Her most famous — The Mousetrap, directed by the highly accomplished Sam Gregory — is currently on stage at Lone Tree Arts Center. It’s a high-gloss affair with multiple twists and turns until the play’s ending reveals the real killer. Kevin Nelson’s design of Monkswell Manor, where the action takes place, is enough to take your breath away, and the cast is, ahem, to die for.

Attesting to the play’s long-running popularity, there have been 29,500 performances of The Mousetrap as of February in London’s West End. The play opened in 1952 and ran continuously until the pandemic shut it down in 2020. Thankfully, it reopened in 2021 and continues to break longevity records.

I have been compelled not to reveal any specific information about The Mousetrap, especially who the killer is. During a brief curtain speech following the performance, the audience is cautioned not to divulge any secrets surrounding the play they have just seen. I will abide by their request and limit my synopsis.

Set in the early 1950s at Monkswell Manor, an English country house, seven unsuspecting strangers are trapped by a raging blizzard and are ultimately snowed in. Mollie (Erika Mori) and her husband, Giles Ralston (Alex Esola), own the manor. Each of the five guests arrive under challenging circumstances due to the weather. They immediately drop clues about their background and form initial reactions to each other while Sergeant Trotter (Colten Blair) arrives to investigate a murder committed in the nearby town.

Kevin Nelson’s set design is a spot-on representation of an English country house. | Photo: Moon Night Photography

Colorful characters

Agatha Christie is known for her well-developed and colorful characters, and The Mousetrap is no exception. As Mollie, Mori is hugely appealing — initially focused on operating a profitable guest house. She ties the pieces together as the play’s centerpiece with Ralston. He, too, is a foundational character that influences the play’s action. Esola’s performance is amusingly ambiguous, causing raised eyebrows during the play’s early moments.

As the highly dedicated Sergeant Trotter, Blair swoops into the proceedings with an intent of almost divine intervention. He is both brusque and efficacious in the role, trying to connect the dots regarding the murder and expose the potentially murderous houseguest.

As the suspects, Tara Falk is appropriately snooty as Mrs. Boyle, arriving in a taxicab with Major Metcalf, played by a properly reserved Brik Berkes. We are treated to a flamboyant Christopher Wren, played by an excellent Sean Johnson, whose performance adds a level of lightness to the otherwise serious proceedings.

Another houseguest is Miss Casewell (Rachel Darden) — a mysterious woman who has just returned to England after a prolonged absence. Darden’s performance adds mystery without revealing much about her past or how she landed at Monkswell Manor. Finally, there is Mr. Paravicini, played by a robust Søren Oliver. He adds more intrigue as the only foreign-born house guest without a good reason for being there.

Sam Gregory skillfully directs the entire production, focusing on attention to detail throughout the play. The action moves at a rapid clip, and Gregory carefully drops the breadcrumbs along the way. Along with casting director Sylvia Gregory, he has assembled a first-rate group of actors and an incredibly gifted design team to tell the story of intrigue and murder.

Of special note is the scenic design by Kevin Nelson. As soon as the curtain rises to reveal Monkswell Manor, we are treated to a spectacular guesthouse drawing room that beautifully depicts the overall ambiance of the early 1950s. The costumes by Emily Valley are period-appropriate and highly descriptive of each character.

This production of The Mousetrap has achieved the trifecta: a winning storyline, superb direction and a top-notch cast. Having returned to theatrical performances last year with their award-winning production of Dreamgirls, Lone Tree Arts Center has hit another home run with The Mousetrap. But grab tickets soon — it plays only through April 21.