HRVHS presents ‘The Mousetrap’

HOOD RIVER — Foul play is afoot in the cozy confines of Monkswell Manor, also known as the Bowe Theater, where two ensembles from Hood River Valley High School (HRVHS) will perform Agatha Christie’s classic stage whodunnit “The Mousetrap” for two weeks, opening on Feb. 20.

Director Jennifer Graves leads a thrilling and suspenseful romp, sure to leave audiences guessing, backed by atmospheric scenic design and sharp, demanding lead performances.

Graves, a seasoned Gorge theater teacher serving her second year with the high school, is a longtime Christie fan. At 17, while touring London, she saw “The Mousetrap” for the first time and was captivated by its curious characters and shocking twist.

 “Those experiences shaped me as a young adult and ultimately led me to choose ‘The Mousetrap’ for our winter play,” she shared in her director’s note.

“The Mousetrap” is an ensemble play, but not to the degree of something like “Mamma Mia,” HRVHS’s sweeping fall musical, which featured a throng of backup dancers and minor roles alongside its leads. Christie’s murder mystery is dialogue-heavy, dependent on a team of eight actors to unfurl its twisted web.

To spread the wealth and ensure more students could get involved, Graves elected to double-cast the play. Thus, the “Gold Cast” and “Blue Cast” will teeter back and forth every other show.

Set in 1952 England, “The Mousetrap” unfolds inside a snowbound guest house, where stranded staff and travelers work with a detective to decipher the murder of a local woman. It soon becomes clear that the killer is among them, and the eight strangers grow increasingly suspicious of one another. Having run consistently from 1952 to present, it is considered the world’s longest-running play.

“What I love about the show is how comfortable it feels at the start. It’s warm and funny enough to let your guard down,” Graves said. “But once you’re stuck in one place with people you don’t know, every moment starts to matter. I focused on those small, human details, where the tension really lives, as I began to direct our show.

Rehearsing since January, the cast does an excellent job realizing Christie’s distinctive characters. Junior Willow Hlavac, who plays Detective Sgt. Trotter in both casts, consumes the stage for much of the play, delivering monologue after monologue with vigor and exuberance.

Senior Gus Reed, starring in his 31st show since first grade, also inhabits both casts as the well-mannered guest house co-owner Giles Ralston, whose temper flares as jealousy and deceit seep in. Playing his newlywed, the hospitable Mollie Ralston, sophomores Josette Robidoux and Daisy Jones are overcome by fear and doubt as the killer’s identity becomes cloudy.

Freshman Tia Welvaert and junior Alexa Banuelos-Santillan play the pompous and irritable jurist, Mrs. Boyle, whose British accent is almost as thick as her ego. Freshman Dylan Stauffacher and sophomore Lev Mantone breathe life into the youthful and eccentric architect Christopher Wren, whose offbeat charm muddies his otherwise suspicious behavior.

Sophomores Skye Weiseth and Claire Monroe portray the cold and direct Miss Casewell with confidence; freshman Alex Ulland and junior Felix S. Valdez Rodriguez play the polite and unassuming Major Metcalf with discipline; while senior Enrique Chavez and freshman Soliette Barrilleaux inhabit the flamboyant foreigner Mr. Paravicini as jovial as can be.

“These kids have worked a lot on these unique characters — this eclectic group that has come together,” Graves said. “They’re scared, and they’re paranoid, and you see that all coming through. I hope audiences realize how much time it takes to memorize all these lines, but also build out the characters and suspense.”

Beyond the cast, the entire production, from the lighting to the blocking, the costumes to the props, does great work establishing time and place, enunciating its unmistakable atmosphere. The stage centerpiece — a beautiful antique sofa — anchors a snug commonspace full of period-conscious furniture and decor.

But before you go, remember: “The Mousetrap” comes with a tradition. “Audiences have been asked for decades to keep its secret,” Graves said. “We’re grateful to be a part of that.”

The play runs for two weekends (Feb. 20, 21, 27, 28 at 7 p.m.), with matinees slated for Feb. 22 and 28 at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased https://hrvhstheatredepartment.ludus.com for reserved seating or via general admission at the door.