THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, March 5, 1996 TAG: 9603050192
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
TYPE: Theater Review
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Two dead people and three blind mice. Who killed the former? Who whistled the tune about the latter?
That's the premise of ``The Mousetrap,'' the Agatha Christie mystery concluding an Elizabeth City run this weekend.
The Encore presentation is a neatly done whodunit. Take a look at it and see if you can figure things out. It isn't easy.
To help you, there is an excellent English-inn set and a variety of characters, any one of whom might be at the receiving end of the finger of suspicion.
As Detective Trotter puts it - ``one of you is a killer. One of you is a killer's next victim.''
The first victim is done away with, pre-production, but we do get to see the killer - in shadowy darkness, of course - skulk around and do away with the unfortunate target, who goes down with a delicious scream.
All of the action takes place in one suspect-filled room. The mystery offers more twists and turns than a Carolina back road.
Ron Russell, as the detective, harasses all in sight, the actor acquitting himself quite well.
Most of the performers do, too. Amanda Chastain, as Mollie, an inn co-owner, is quite convincing despite her youth. She has a voice like the good witch in ``The Wizard of Oz.''
Tony Zachary, however, portraying her husband, Giles, seems somewhat uncomfortable.
One of the neat things about ``The Mousetrap'' is its variety of characters. They are unpleasant, odd or both.
The most fascinating individual is Christopher Wren. Michael Williams offers a delightful performance of this non-stop perky, jerky talker.
Donna Simons portrays Mrs. Boyle - sort of a Hermione Gingold with an attitude. Good job.
Chris Crossland does fine as Mr. Paravicini, the play's token Italian, and the most suspicious character around - a man of mystery. The Encore production offers a woman in this part normally played by a man.
Sue Filarecki is quite good as Miss Casewell, as is Bob Rossman who portrays Maj. Metcalfe.
If you don't think these characters are involved in a good, old-fashioned, oft-imitated murder mystery, catch these lines offered by the detective.
``We've got to establish opportunity as well as motive. You all had the opportunity'' or ``nobody who's killed twice will hesitate to kill a third time.''
``The Mousetrap'' is a fine thriller with fascinating characters and a conclusion difficult to figure out.
Hint - the answer is hidden somewhere in this review. Heh-heh! ILLUSTRATION: THEATER REVIEW
WHAT: The Encore Theatre Company presents ``The Mousetrap.''
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday.
WHERE: Main Street Stage, Pasquotank Arts Building loft,
Elizabeth City.
by CNB