Theater Review: Agatha Christie's 'The Mousetrap'

Review by Connecticut Critics Circle member and Patch.com Contributor Nancy Sasso Janis

Sharon Playhouse has put together a mysterious production of the twisty “Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap,” where “everyone’s a suspect.” The tricky murder mystery play closes on the Sharon stage on Oct. 6.

The vision of director Hunter Foster (“Rock of Ages” in Sharon, “A Christmas Story” and “The Drowsy Chaperone” at Goodspeed Musicals) is darkly mysterious and faithful to the time period. When the audience is not scrambling to solve the mystery, they are having their spines tingled with the proceedings at Monkswell Manor during WWII.

This talented cast contains both Equity and non-Equity members and everyone works together as the perfect ensemble. Equity’s Dana Dominick is so believable in the role of the British Mollie Ralston, the young woman who runs the guest house with her new husband Giles, played by Connecticut native Reid Sinclair in his Sharon Playhouse debut. Dominick is an actor, dancer, voiceover arts, podcast producer and educator who came to the Northwest Corner from NYC and Sinclair has been acting since the age of ten.

Caroline Kinsolving, a member of Actor’s Equity who was part of “Cry it Out” at Hartford Stage, plays the tall and strange guest Miss Casewell and Equity member Sandy York ("Shear Madness” in 2022 in Sharon) returns to this stage to play the critical and “horrid” Mrs. Boyle.

Will Nash Broyles returns to Sharon to bring the hyperactive Christopher Wren to delightful life. The actor was in “Our Town” in Sharon and played Romeo with Waterbury’s Shakesperience. Ricky Oliver, who teaches in the Education department of the Sharon Playhouse year round, takes on the role of the surprise guest Mr. Paravicini, who has an affected foreign accent and is mysteriously trying to appear older. The long-legged Christopher McLinden, another Equity performer, is strong in the role of Sgt. Trotter, who skis to the Manor, in his Sharon Playhouse debut.

The always spot-on actor Dick Terhune (Hertz in last year’s awesome “Rock of Ages”) returns to the Sherman stage to take on the role of Major Metcalf. It is always a treat to see this wonderful voice actor on any stage. Terhune probably recorded the house announcements.

Scenic Designers Christopher Swader and Justin Swader, both members of United Scenic Artists, have provided an elaborate and gloomy Great Hall at the Manor, complete with a snowstorm falling outside the large window. Karla Wentworth is the talented scenic artist. Nicki Damico is the props manager of all the mysterious items.

WestConn graduate Alix Lewis is the technical director of this production. It is not often that I can recognize the lighting and sound designer as a team, but these two technical aspects work together seamlessly to bring out the spookiest aspects. Kudos to Wheeler Moon (a member of United Scenic Artists) for the moody lighting design, casting shadows or synching with the room lighting as needed. Multi-instrumentalist Graham Stone nails the jump scare sound cues that are very memorable.

Add in the insightful costume design of Resident Costume Designer/Costume Shop Manager Kathleen DeAngelis (oh, the hang of the trousers!) and the rich wig/makeup design by Graham Stone (“The Gilded Age” on television) and the look and sound of the two acts could not be more captivating.

“Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” - The Red Queen in Lewis Carroll’s “Through the Looking Glass”

A comment by a colleague reminded me that I had reviewed the Hartford Stage production of this play, although I will admit that I spent the entire second act trying to solve the mystery and I can honestly write that I did not remember the ending. I easily recalled Christie’s references to “Three Blind Mice,” “London Bridge,” and “Little Jack Horner.”

As is tradition, the audience is asked not to reveal the ending to anyone after leaving the theatre. A trifold paper program provides the QR code for the fancy full digital program, but a paper version is available upon request.

Keep your wits about you and try to catch one of the remaining performances before this play closes this weekend. Get your tickets at sharonplayhouse.org/the-mousetrap.

Coming up in December will be the 5th Annual Holiday Youthstage Production of the new adaptation of “Peter Pan” by Drew Ledbetter and Andrus Nichols. Performances will run Dec. 17 - 21.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She was a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the CCC Facebook page.