Kirk Players open 47th season with Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’
One of the great plays of all time, Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap,” is the opening show for the Kirk Players’ 47th season.
“Our goal is to keep the audience in suspense,” said director Kat Basso. “One of the people in the manor is a murderer, and, any of the eight characters could have done it. So each character needs to be multifaceted, well-rounded … believable. That’s challenging.”
The play, enjoying its 60th anniversary as the longest running murder mystery of all time, opens at the Mundelein High School Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25. Other performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, and Saturday, Oct. 27. There will be a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27.
Full of twists and red herrings, the play is about eight characters trapped in Monkswell Manor in London during a furious snowstorm. A woman has just been murdered and as the story unfolds, it becomes quite evident the guests in the manor have a killer in their midst. The suspense intensifies as one of the characters is suddenly murdered, and the plot weaves a gripping mystery.
“We have a marvelous cast. I am enjoying each one in their process of internalizing the character. Not just acting, but becoming the character,” Basso said. “The audience will thoroughly enjoy how the characters’ beautiful moments create a moving story.” The talented cast is made up of veteran and new players and guest players.
Guest actors Nick Huebner of Barrington plays Christopher Wren and Charley Pippenger of Hawthorn Woods plays Mr. Paravincini. Veteran players Dominick Basso plays Major Metcalf, Randy Rice as Detective Sergeant Trotter, Jenny Tomlin as Mollie Ralston, Paula Marsh as Miss Casewell and Bobbi La Belle as Mrs. Boyle. New Kirk Player, James Torbeck of Mundelein, plays Giles Ralston.
There is a strong technical crew, as well. Kirk Players Gretchen Grassl is assistant director, Brian Motyka is stage manager and Dominick Basso is technical director. Kirk Players Dave Kennebeck is assistant stage manager, Marilee CC Wald is sound designer, Chuck Fitz-Hugh is lights designer, Fran Hansen is props mistress and Brenda Sparks is set designer. Guest techie Annette Gibson of Long Grove is costume designer. Kirk Player Bev Johnson is house manager.
“It’s a great opportunity to see a terrifically crafted murder mystery written solely for the stage. Agatha Christie wrote this play for Queen Victoria, and in all these years it has never been made into a movie,” Basso said.
For tickets and more information, visit www.kirkplayers.org or call (847) 521-6192.