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THE MOUSETRAP- Reviewer David Kary
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 A happy cast and crew. Pic Grant Fraser
The Genesian Theatre was in the fortunate position of announcing months before their current production of Agathie Christie’s classic 1952 murder mystery THE MOUSETRAP opened, that the show was a complete sell-out.
With the present production, Barry Nielson, the Company’s Artistic Director, has taken over the driving wheel and come up with a clear and assured production
The curtain opens to reveal a meticulous period set designed by Owen Gimblett. We meet Elizabeth Gibney and Michael Dowling who give finely detailed and focused portrayals as husband and wife team, Mollie and Giles Ralston, chatting excitedly about their first day in their new career, as managers of the Monkswell guest house.
The weather conditions are horrid, the country is being gripped by a snow blizzard, still the Ralston’s first day is going well, the guests are coming in like clockwork, that is, until they receive a phone call from Detective Sergeant Trotter, given a standard portrayal by Sebastian Wang.
Trotter announces that he is coming straight over, he’s going to ski over because of the blizzard, a murder has taken place in London and it is his belief that the murderer is one of the guests staying at the Manor, and may well again strike soon. Meanwhile the guesthouse has been filling up with a typically varied assortment of odd Christie characters.
Alexander Frank gives an appropriately hammy performance as an agitated, manic young man on the run from somewhere, he won’t say where, and claiming to bear the same as the great British architect, Christopher Wren. Wren gets on the nerves of the other guests, in particular the archly conservative former court magistrate Mrs Doyle, confidently played by Genesian’s regular, Shane Bates.
AADT graduate Cheyne Fynn revels in playing Mr Paravicini, a guest who enjoys bringing attention to himself from the moment that he arrives. Mr Paravicini hasn’t booked, the Ralston’s have accepted him as an emergency guest after his car broke down in the snow. With his odd foreign accent and his strange manner, he garners immediate suspicion.
Noel Camilleri plays the prudent Major Metcalf, retired from the army, and furtive about his present life. Dani Gross gives a strong performance as the aloof, very masculine Ms Casewell, who ‘protests too much’ about her unhappy childhood.
Headlining the creatives, Timothy M Carter looked after the lights, Michael Schell’s the music and Nicola Griggs and Susan Carveth’s worked together on the impressive costume and make-up design.
An atmospheric, colourful night in the theatre, Barry Nielsen’s production of THE MOUSETRAP opened at the Genesian theatre on Saturday 3rd September and runs until Saturday 15th October, 2011.
© David Kary
10th September 2011
Tags: THE MOUSETRAP, Agatha Christie, Barry Nielson, Owen Gimblett, Elizabeth Gibney, Michael Dowling, Sebastian Wang, Alexander Frank, Shane Bates, Cheyne Fynn, Noel Camilleri, Dani Gross, Timonthy M Carter, Michael Schell, Nicola Griggs, Susan Carveth, Grant Fraser
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