RSVP production of The Mousetrap begins 2-weekend run on Friday

By Philip Shore

The Mousetrap. What izzit? The longest running play on the West End stage of London. 

Who’s doing it?  RSVP Community Theatre, of course, with help from the City of Asheboro. 

Where izzit? The Sunset Theatre, of course. 

When izzit? Coming up soon, bridging the gap between October and November. 

The Mousetrap as you probably know is a world-famous mystery. Whodunnit? Howdunnit? (Given the remote location of the action, the inclement weather, and the odd assemblage of personalities, it is very likely that Houdini dunnit.) 

A fine selection of suspicious characters inhabits this Agatha Christie classic. JeriLynn Roblee is Mollie Ralston. David Lambert is Giles Ralston. Josh Williford is Christopher Wren. Cameron Quinn is Mrs. Boyle. Justin Tarlton is Major Metcalf. Lauren Wood is Miss Casewell. Philip Schuyler is Mr. Paravicini. Elijah Laprise is Detective Sergeant Trotter. Suspicious characters and accomplished. 

For instance: Philip Schuyler (Mr. Paravincini) is a science teacher at Randolph Early College High School (RECHS) as well as an instructor at RCC’s High School Equivalency Degree Program. He has been interested in theatre since his own high school years. He says it’s fun to play his role because of the accent, his awkwardness, his creepiness, his mysteriousness. This is his first role onstage since two stints as stage manager. “It’s great to be back,” quoth he. 

Josh Williford brings a certain athleticism to his role as Christopher Wren. He was previously in Twelve Angry Jurors. As an Irish sports enthusiast, he excels at Hurling and Gaelic Football. He is a medical assistant at Alamance Ear, Nose, and Throat in Mebane. 

Lauren Wood (Miss Casewell) performed for us last in the hilarious Four Old Broads, one of which she was not. She has also regaled us in The Music Man and Clue. By day, she teaches honors chemistry at RECHS and sponsors Beta Club and Science National Honor Society. That’s not all! She also works at RCC in the College and Career Readiness Department to support students in the Adult High School and GED programs. 

Cameron Quinn (Mrs. Boyle) sojourned to California from our area to improve her craft and work professionally. She studied financial planning, achieving the CFP designation. While out west, she studied Stanislavsky and Meisner techniques. Active on film and stage, she worked in everything from The Sound Of Music to experimental films. Her indie film The First Color was widely praised. We on the Atlantic Coast are happy she made her way back to us. 

Now, here is a poet and he don’t know it: David Lambert (Giles Ralston). He tells us that his last play was The Comedy of Errors performed in Bicentennial Park. He is Director of Strategic Projects for the NC Department of Commerce. He helps communities land big industries and figure out where the pipes and the people go. “It’s a lot like directing a play —but with fewer costumes and more spreadsheets. Theatre keeps me honest. Somewhere between the boardroom and the stage, purpose and comedy share the same script, but one of the two has better lighting.” A poet and a wit. 

Justin Tarlton (Major Metcalf) is a longtime member and participant in RSVP productions at every level. He picks ’em; he plans ’em; he directs ’em; he stars in ’em. Currently his biggest star role is that of the president of RSVP.  Do you remember Mayor Shinn in The Music Man? That’s him in his favorite vehicle. Justin is a science teacher at Uwharrie Charter Academy. He’s been working with RSVP since 2004. He recently acted the role of Dr. Chasuble in a Burlington production of The Importance of Being Earnest.

JeriLynn Clark (Mollie Ralston) from Four Old Broads, another of which she is not, keeps the inn where the action takes place. She has done Shakespeare in Bicentennial Park and other RSVP roles as well. 

Elijah Laprise (Detective Sergeant Trotter): It’s possible he never imagined, when friends pulled him into the precincts of the theatre, that he would stay so long and do so many different roles. He will again triumph as the good detective. His day job is with Pye-Barker Fire & Safety. 

Steffanie Vaughan is honored to be returning to RSVP and working with such a talented cast and crew. She began her theatre life in the orchestra pit for a community theatre production of Annie and became a part of the theatre community in the Piedmont Triad area. Since that time, she has played in many pit orchestras (cello), acted, produced, music directed and directed. As a director, her favorites are Cabaret, Disney’s Tarzan, Barefoot in the Park and The Miracle Worker.  As an actor, faves include Anna Leonowens in The King & I, Abigail Adams in 1776, Reverend Mother in The Sound of Music and Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter. 

The Mousetrap is perhaps Agatha Christie’s best known work. It opened in 1952 and has run continuously in London ever since — with a year’s break for the COVID pandemic, then resumed. Adding worldwide performances by professional and amateur casts, millions of people have seen it. 

The short story upon which the play is based has never been published on its own — this by contractual agreement — no one has seen it and won’t until. ..  Only when the show closes will we see the original. (A little side mystery for the future.) 

Even the author had no idea how long the play might run — eight months, 14 months, perhaps, but not seventy-some years with an intermission. Miss Christie assigned the rights to the piece to her grandson. So far, the play has been performed in excess of 30,000 times at only two theatres in London.   

The title is a reference to a line in Hamlet by William Shakespeare. When Claudius asks the moody Dane what the name of the play the traveling players will perform, he replies, “The Mousetrap.” This is a metaphorical answer because “the play’s the thing/ Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king”, as you may recall. The players themselves, however, call it The Murther of Gonzago.   

The London production still has one original cast member from opening night, so to speak.  Deryck Guyler provides the voice of the radio news reader whose announcement, via recording, still haunts the West End production. 

Seldom has such an illustrious author with a large body of popular literature still avidly read created such a lasting theatrical piece that shows no sign of wearing out. Our Asheboro fans will be happy to know that there is a copy of the play shelved with Miss Christie’s novels. 

Friday and Saturday performances take place on Oct. 24 & 25 and Oct. 31 & Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. Sunday performances take place on Oct. 26 and Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at RSVPTheatre.org, Brightside Gallery (cash only), or at the door, cash or card.