Amdram performs ‘The Mousetrap’

Detective Sergeant Trotter arrives through the snow to begin investigating possible links between a murder in London and the guests at Monkswell Manor Guesthouse. From left: Mr Paravicini (Rosie Rendell), Major Metcalf (Colin McKinney), Mrs Boyle (Roz Armstrong), Detective Sergeant Trotter (Heath McKenzie), Giles Ralston (Jason George), Mollie Ralston (Helen Watson) and Christopher Wren (Zach McKenzie). Photo/Steve Carle

The dress rehearsal for Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, the world’s longest-running (opened in 1952), appeared flawless recently in Whanganui.

The play celebrated its 295,000th performance this year. There was plenty of movement on stage from talented actors from Whanganui’s Amdram Musical Theatre, which happens to be the longest-running musical theatre in New Zealand.

Amdram president, Graham Dack, was in The Mousetrap on its 65th anniversary when he was in Wellington. He had been asking for the rights for the past four years to get it to Whanganui.

“It’s been hard to get. It’s never been performed in Whanganui before.”

It is the sixth play Chris McKenzie has directed.

“I didn’t know the story very well but I was aware of its reputation. As such I originally wanted to be in it,” he said.

“When we couldn’t find a director, I volunteered to make sure I could be involved in some way.

“When I watched a performance of it, I saw how good it was and was also surprised at how funny it was.

“My background is mainly comedy and some of the characters are so quirky you can’t help but laugh at their antics.

“One minute you’ve got the audience laughing, next minute you’ve got them looking over their shoulder.

“It’s a classic murder mystery and therefore filled with suspense and intrigue, but the nuggets of comedy gold sprinkled throughout are priceless. It would have to be a great play to be running for over 70 years.

“These days, with so many people interested in true crime, it should appeal to many.

“If we’ve done our job correctly, there will be at least one or two people in the audience who will think it could be any of the characters that are on stage,

“That’s the way it should be. We’re hoping that when the final reveal is made at the end of the play, it’ll be a surprise to the majority of people.

“The cast is brilliant. The actors are just top-notch.”

McKenzie has been in Whanganui most of his life and has been involved with Amdram since 2008.

The Plot

As news spreads of a murder in London, a group of seven strangers find themselves snowed in at a remote countryside guesthouse.

When a police sergeant arrives, the guests discover — to their horror — there is a killer in their midst.

One by one, the suspicious characters reveal their sordid pasts. Which one is the murderer? Who will be their next victim?

Can you solve this world-famous mystery for yourself?

For almost 70 years, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap has kept millions of people from every corner of the globe on the edge of their seats. Have youdunnit?

Playing from December 5 - 15, tickets are available by clicking the link iticket.co.nz/events/2024/dec/amdram-the-mousetrap