Diamond Head Theatre sets the bait for audiences with ‘The Mousetrap’

In the 40 years since her death in 1976, Agatha Christie has continued to reign as the queen of the classic “drawing room” mystery. Renowned as a master of plotting, suspense and character development, she is also the world’s best-selling writer of the genre. Christie’s top-selling mystery, “And Then There Were None,” has sold more than 100 million copies since it was published in 1939, and that’s only one of 80 published books in her name.

The stage version of Christie’s mystery “The Mousetrap” holds the world’s record for the longest initial run — it opened in London in November 1952 and is still there in 2016 after more than 25,000 performances, with ticket orders being taken through January 2017.

Diamond Head Theatre has presented “The Mousetrap” twice, in 1972 and 1988. DHT Artistic Director John Rampage says the time has come for Christie’s classic mystery to return to Honolulu’s theater calendar.

“There’s never been a lessening of interest in Agatha Christie, no matter how old the story or when it was published,” he said, adding that the Christie estate has authorized additional “Agatha Christie” books by an author who clones Christie’s style and plotting technique. “People are still fascinated by ‘The Mousetrap,’ so it’s never really gone out of style.

“People love a whodunnit, and this particular play was actually written by Agatha Christie herself. Other Agatha Christie plays were adapted from one of her books, but this one has her own hand in it and her own unique brand of a whodunnit.”

With just one nonmusical on the schedule each year, Diamond Head Theatre chooses plays carefully, Rampage added.

“Last year we did ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ which is incredibly dramatic, and this year it just seemed right for a murder mystery,” he said. “The response so far has been very, very positive.”

ROB DUVAL, a veteran actor and director, is the guest artist in charge of “The Mousetrap.” And while Rampage often directs and choreographs DHT shows, this time around he was able to experience the final “hell week” of rehearsals as an observer rather that as a participant.

The cast includes some familiar faces — a couple of which may not be easily recognized. Garrett Hols, seen previously at DHT as Sir Lancelot in “Spamalot” in 2014 and then as the evil Lord Farquaad in “Shrek” last summer, returns as Detective Sergeant Trotter, a man who arrives at a snowed-in English country house to investigate a murder.

Audiences who enjoyed Hols’ portrayal of Lord Farquaad might not recognize him — he played the diminutive villain by “walking” on his knees.

Playing the suspects are Jeff Brackett as Giles Ralston, Ahnya Chang as Mollie Ralston, Regina Ewing as Mrs. Boyle, Thomas Ilalaole as Christopher Wren, LeGrand Lawrence as Mr. Paravicin, Therese Olival as Miss Casewell and Saul Rollason as Major Metcalf.

Lawrence, who starred in the title role of “Shrek,” won’t be in “greenface” this time.

Rampage said he’s especially proud of what Lawrence has accomplished since his first audition at DHT.

“LeGrand came to us for ‘Spamalot.’ It was his first show, and we took a chance — it was a good audition, but we didn’t know much about him. He did seven shows in a row for us,” Rampage noted. “His ultimate goal was to audition for ‘Shrek.’ Talk about going from ensemble to supporting (role) to leading a show! And then he just did ‘My Boy, He Play Ball’ at Kumu Kahua. He’s expanding in so many different directions.”

Other cast members with interesting back stories include Olival, who is back at DHT after her riveting portrayal of Mayella Ewell in “To Kill a Mockingbird” last year, and Chang, who is director and choreographer for DHT’s next show, “Camelot.”

Ewing, a DHT volunteer for as long as Rampage can remember, is returning to the DHT stage for the first time in more than 20 years.

“When she came out for auditions, I asked, ‘Why did you wait so long?’ She said, ‘I was waiting for the right part.’”