ShowcasePlayerspromisetobringmystery,suspense
Live theater back after two year absence
Doors will creak, suspicions will peak and a murderer will try to evade the law, as the curtain opens on the ShowCase Players production of Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap”, Friday and Saturday March 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 20 at 2 p.m. on the Colby High School stage.
Tickets are available at the door or from cast and crew members. A dollar will be taken off tickets purchased at the door with a donation of a non-perishable food item for the local food pantry.
“The Mousetrap” is the longest running play in history. The play originally opened in London’s West End in 1952 and ran continuously until March 16, 2020, when the stage performances had to be discontinued during the pandemic. The show opened again in London last May.
This famous murder mystery takes place at Monkswell Manor Guest House in England, run by hard working Giles Ralston (Conrad Flink, Abbotsford) and his young wife Molly (Taya Timm, Unity). Suspicious guests, some rather unexpected, include the flamboyant Christopher Wren (Jordan Ashenbrenner, Wausau), the unflappable Mrs. Boyle (Elaine Haas, Abbotsford), the proper Major Metcalf (Edgar Ausbourne, Spencer), the curious Miss Casewell (Ariel Oehmichen, Colby), the mysterious Mr. Paravacini (Greg Jackan, Marshfield) and the hearty Sergeant Trotter (Nathan Bier, Greenwood).
When one of the guests turns up murdered, everyone is under suspicion! Assisting in the production are Paula Williams, Kevin Wyeth, Brandon Ashenbrenner, Kevin Hanson, Ryan Lampi, Wade Oehmichen, Kevin Flink, Lia Smith, Dawn Kasper-Harding, Nancy Amacher and Jenny Weber.
The ShowCase Players has been producing “community theatre for entertainment, enrichment and inspiration” since 1984. One of the founding members, Jeffer Scheuer, is directing this production. The group has called the Colby High School stage its home, producing most of its shows in that theater.
The ShowCase Players has provided thousands of dollars of scholarships to local graduating high school students going on to study in some aspect of the arts, as well as donating to improvements to the theater facility itself.
It also has contributed to local high school groups attending professional productions. In addition, ShowCase has donated foodstuffs collected at the door to local pantries.
To help promote literacy and the arts in the area, the ShowCase Players and many of the local libraries are giving away a limited number of free tickets to the upcoming show. To win free tickets, drop by one of the participating libraries, fill out an entry slip and drop it in the provided entry box.
There will be two pairs of tickets each, given away at the Abbotsford Public Library, the Colby Community Library, the Dorchester Public Library, the Greenwood Public Library, the Loyal Public Library, the Owen Public Library and the Withee Public Library.
While visiting your local library, take advantage of their many fine programs, or get a library card and read some classic Agatha Christie mysteries.
Patrons are asked to not reveal the outcome of the mystery to others!
“The Mousetrap” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French Inc.
