World’s Longest-running Play is Sure to Thrill OC Audiences
By: MaryAnn DiPietro
It’s no secret that murder mysteries captivate audiences, and this fall, the world’s longest-running play hits the stage at Renaissance Theatre Company (RTC) with Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap.” What began as a radio play in 1947, originally written for Queen Mary’s birthday, is sure to thrill audiences with its twists and turns. This timeless classic opened as a play in London’s West End in 1952 and has been running ever since.
Directed by Sarah Jane Finch, “The Mousetrap” transports the audience to Monkswell Manor, where “seven strangers arrive, and with the late arrival of Sergeant Trotter, they realize there is a murderer amongst them and as they try to figure out who done it-- so does the audience,” she describes the plot. The play keeps audiences guessing, and everyone is a suspect.
Finch, an England native who has called the States home for over a decade, is taking on “The Mousetrap” for the first time. Surprisingly, she had never seen or read the play before directing this production. “I love Agatha Christie and murder mysteries, but coming into this play fresh has allowed me to not have any other preconceptions, which makes it exciting, and I hope to bring something new to it,” she shares. Finch’s connection to the play goes deeper, however-- Christie based the original radio play, from which “The Mousetrap” is adapted, on a real-life murder case in Shropshire, which happens to be where Finch is from. “There is a weird link in how the world works,” she chuckles.
Though new to “The Mousetrap”, Finch is no stranger to RTC and the Orange County theatre community. Her first show in the States was “You Can’t Take It With You” as an actor, and her first directing project with RTC was “Steel Magnolias.” She loves returning as a director. “Steel Magnolias” was “a lot of fun, but a lot of emotions and a very different vibe from this show.” There are some familiar faces in the cast and some new folks too. Finch enjoys working with her “wonderful assistant director, Quinn Rizzo who I have worked with before, and also McKenna Green, who is the new stage manager.”
The main difference between the two shows is that they are transforming the traditional proscenium stage into an intimate black box theatre. The audience will be seated on the stage— about 125 seats. Finch reveals that, adding to the suspense, “The audience is arriving at the manor, and thus being guests, they are almost immersed in seeing what happens and how the story unfolds.”
One of the production’s challenges has been navigating the intricacies of the stage directions, which are notoriously specific. Finch says, “It took a couple of times to see if they are necessary to follow or not. The doors, especially the doors—figuring out the entrances and exits, and where everything is located amongst the house. It’s an ongoing joke with the cast.” Finch is quick to praise her creative team, which includes Jeremy Golden, who designed the set and has been crucial in figuring out these logistics. He also serves as RTC’s Artistic Director and high school drama teacher. They currently utilize the Aliso Niguel High School stage while searching for their own theatre space. “Lighting designer and graduate of Jeremy’s high school drama program, Grace Dimapilis, has done a great job at figuring out how to light in this new space. She has also lit the working fireplace on stage, which looks great,” Finch explains.
“Attention to detail is key,” Finch adds, “and it is brought to life by Green, who is pulling double duty as costume designer, and Marc Denton, who is the props master. Green has kept [the costumes] authentic and true to the time period of 1950s England in winter, perhaps to the dismay of the actors wearing them since we are currently having a Southern California heat wave while they are deep into rehearsals. Even the newspapers will be of the time and place. We can’t fake it and they can’t be current with the audience being seated so close,” Finch discloses. “We even hired dramaturg Talia Hirsch to help the actors and crew and to bring those pieces of history to light. England was still in a state of depression at that time, and we needed those details to build onto our vision.”
In her ideal world, the audience “would be shocked by the outcome of the play, surprised by the twists and turns, mesmerized by the talent in the room, and seeing such powerful performances.” Can you figure out who the killer is before the final curtain?
MaryAnn DiPietro is an actor, singer, pianist, music director, and writer.
“The Mousetrap”
Renaissance Theatre Company
Aliso Niguel High School Theatre
28000 Wolverine Way Aliso Viejo, CA
September 27-October 6, 2024
(949) 415-6280, www.rentheatreco.org
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