by Jonah Barrett for OLY ARTS
No spoilers! Yelm’s Standing Room Only theater production company is bringing Agatha Christie’s classic murder mystery The Mousetrap to the Triad Theater this March, directed by Olympia actor Chris Cantrell. Starting in 2016, SRO has aimed to expand its creative muscles by bringing in new talent and artistry from outside of Yelm. Since 1996 Nancy Hillman has directed almost every play at SRO, and this will mark the first time in the company’s history that an “outsider” to Yelm has come to direct. “I feel that I bring a range and depth of experience in theater that includes an alternate approach to the creative process,” said Cantrell. “As a director, creating a common vocabulary to communicate ideas on character development has been one of the key elements.”
Dawn Young, one of The Mousetrap’s two co-producers, stated she looks forward to witnessing SRO’s evolution as the company’s program develops and it welcomes more directors. “Chris Cantrell brings a completely different way of being and organization to the production of The Mousetrap,” she said.
The Mousetrap is certainly a good choice for a director new to this facility; the play was chosen for its general appeal and public interest. “Agatha Christie is the queen of murder mysteries and we expect to have a big, appreciative audience,” said co-producer Richard Frias. The murder mystery made its world debut at London’s West End in 1952 and has been running ever since with over 25,000 performances.
A twist at the end is Mousetrap’s most famous quality, and it’s common tradition to ask the audience at the end of the play not to spoil the ending for future viewers. “Agatha Christie murder mysteries, The Mousetrap specifically, (are) not performed in Olympia very often,” Cantrell said. “This is an excellent opportunity to come see this classic story.”
What: The Mousetrap
Where: Standing Room Only’s Triad Theater,
102 E. Yelm Ave., Yelm
When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, March 3-18;
3 p.m. Sundays, March 5-19
How much: $17-$20
Learn more: Triad Theater | SRO