09-25-2008, 07:57 PM
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September 20, 2008
By DAN MORAN <!-- e --><a href="mailto
MORAN@SCN1.COM">DMORAN@SCN1.COM</a><!-- e -->
Less than 24 hours before opening night, the final touches were being put on the longest-running play in theatrical history.
If that observation seems a bit twisted, it would be fitting, considering the play in question was penned by Agatha Christie, who turned readers and audiences on their heads many years before anyone heard of M. Night Shyamalan.
But the explanation is that the Bowen Park Theatre Company just completed the final week of rehearsals for its take on Christie's "The Mousetrap," which has run continuously in London's West End since November 1952.
The Bowen production isn't scheduled to run for the next 56 years and 23,000 performances -- after Friday's opener, it is scheduled for Sept. 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28, and then Oct. 3 and 4.
Preparing for the final dress rehearsal, Bowen artistic director Jason Clark said the public's familiarity with Agatha Christie should prove a natural draw for Lake County theater fans.
"My first show in this space (as artistic director) was Agatha Christie -- 'And Then There Were None,' which is also called 'Ten Little Indians,'" said Clark, sitting in a performance arena where he's acted and directed since the 1990s.
Asked what makes Christie such an attractive playwright, Clark said she's "accessible. It's stuff that audiences like to see and actors like to perform, which is hard to find."
"The Mousetrap" is a classic whodunit, offering a dead body, a small set of characters and a "Clue"-like setting, challenging the audience to identify the killer. Famously, the London production ends with the audience being asked not to spoil the surprise, and Clark honors the tradition in his director's notes.
"The length of the run can be attributed to a request that is made of all the audiences who come to see it, and I will now make of you," he wrote. "Please do not reveal the killer to anyone. They will want to be surprised as well."
Along with directing the play, Clark co-stars as Mr. Paravinci. The cast also includes such Bowen Park veterans as Antioch's Erin K. McMenamin ("Much Ado About Nothing") as Mollie Ralston; Waukegan's Greg Flesher ("And Then There Were None") as Giles Ralston; Antioch's Jerod Howard ("Twelfth Night") as Christopher Wren; and Waukegan's Rich Krapf ("And Then There Were None") as Major Metcalf.
Making their Bowen Park debuts in "Mousetrap" are June Entwisle Miller of Lake Bluff as Mrs. Boyle; Erin Monahan of Gurnee as Miss Casewell: and Nicholas Ryan Lamb of Waukegan as Detective Sergeant Trotter.
Holding everything together behind the scenes is Stage Manager Cathy Stout of Waukegan, described by Clark as "invaluable" to his efforts, especially when he tackles triple duty on productions like "Mousetrap" -- director, performer and set construction.
"We're just trying to do shows that will appeal to Waukegan audiences," he said. "('Mousetrap') is a comfortable show with a bit of danger to it."
"The Mousetrap" will be performed the next three weekends at the at the Dr. Lynn Schornik Theatre, Jack Benny Drive and Sheridan Road. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and military members, and $10 for students. For more information, call (847) 360-4740.
September 20, 2008
By DAN MORAN <!-- e --><a href="mailto
MORAN@SCN1.COM">DMORAN@SCN1.COM</a><!-- e -->Less than 24 hours before opening night, the final touches were being put on the longest-running play in theatrical history.
If that observation seems a bit twisted, it would be fitting, considering the play in question was penned by Agatha Christie, who turned readers and audiences on their heads many years before anyone heard of M. Night Shyamalan.
But the explanation is that the Bowen Park Theatre Company just completed the final week of rehearsals for its take on Christie's "The Mousetrap," which has run continuously in London's West End since November 1952.
The Bowen production isn't scheduled to run for the next 56 years and 23,000 performances -- after Friday's opener, it is scheduled for Sept. 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28, and then Oct. 3 and 4.
Preparing for the final dress rehearsal, Bowen artistic director Jason Clark said the public's familiarity with Agatha Christie should prove a natural draw for Lake County theater fans.
"My first show in this space (as artistic director) was Agatha Christie -- 'And Then There Were None,' which is also called 'Ten Little Indians,'" said Clark, sitting in a performance arena where he's acted and directed since the 1990s.
Asked what makes Christie such an attractive playwright, Clark said she's "accessible. It's stuff that audiences like to see and actors like to perform, which is hard to find."
"The Mousetrap" is a classic whodunit, offering a dead body, a small set of characters and a "Clue"-like setting, challenging the audience to identify the killer. Famously, the London production ends with the audience being asked not to spoil the surprise, and Clark honors the tradition in his director's notes.
"The length of the run can be attributed to a request that is made of all the audiences who come to see it, and I will now make of you," he wrote. "Please do not reveal the killer to anyone. They will want to be surprised as well."
Along with directing the play, Clark co-stars as Mr. Paravinci. The cast also includes such Bowen Park veterans as Antioch's Erin K. McMenamin ("Much Ado About Nothing") as Mollie Ralston; Waukegan's Greg Flesher ("And Then There Were None") as Giles Ralston; Antioch's Jerod Howard ("Twelfth Night") as Christopher Wren; and Waukegan's Rich Krapf ("And Then There Were None") as Major Metcalf.
Making their Bowen Park debuts in "Mousetrap" are June Entwisle Miller of Lake Bluff as Mrs. Boyle; Erin Monahan of Gurnee as Miss Casewell: and Nicholas Ryan Lamb of Waukegan as Detective Sergeant Trotter.
Holding everything together behind the scenes is Stage Manager Cathy Stout of Waukegan, described by Clark as "invaluable" to his efforts, especially when he tackles triple duty on productions like "Mousetrap" -- director, performer and set construction.
"We're just trying to do shows that will appeal to Waukegan audiences," he said. "('Mousetrap') is a comfortable show with a bit of danger to it."
"The Mousetrap" will be performed the next three weekends at the at the Dr. Lynn Schornik Theatre, Jack Benny Drive and Sheridan Road. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and military members, and $10 for students. For more information, call (847) 360-4740.