DOWNTOWN AURORA – Just when you think you know who set the mousetrap, you’ll be in for another surprise at Riverfront Playhouse’s “The Mousetrap” playing now through June 21.
The community theater along Water Street Mall in downtown Aurora does a great job with Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap,” a play that holds the record for being the longest running. It opened in London in 1952 and is still being performed today in London’s West End. The fun of the play is that, traditionally, audience members have been asked to keep the ending a secret, and Christie asked that the play not be published in order to keep the mystery intact.
As someone who hadn’t seen or heard of “The Mousetrap” until the Riverfront announced they were performing it, I can vouch for how fun it is to have the entire play be full of surprise.
“The Mousetrap,” directed by Sherry Winchester Schultz, is a perfectly wrapped murder mystery with all of the trimmings of comedy, intrigue, and suspense. The Riverfront does an impressive job with keeping the audience both guessing and entertained throughout the performance.
From the moment the curtains open and a bloodcurdling scream is heard, “The Mousetrap” sets forth an exciting whodunnit. The gorgeous, period set is phenomenally crafted (hats off to the set crew) and the actors do a great job making it feel like a real, country manor. Each character adds another dimension to the play and the comedy and guessing games begin.
Eunice Ayodele does a convincing job as innkeeper Mollie Ralston, and Chris Contreras is equally believable as her husband, Giles Ralston. The couple’s credibility is important throughout the play. Other characters are gradually introduced as houseguests and add their own quirky personalities to the mix. Markas Sergalis is especially fun to watch as he really breathes life into the Christopher Wren role.
The Riverfront’s “The Mousetrap” will keep you laughing and wondering. And that’s the fun of it.
“The Mousetrap” is showing on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. through June 21 at The Riverfront Playhouse in downtown Aurora.
