Auditions: The Mousetrap

The Mousetrap

Play | Mystery/Thriller

Directed by Jake Van Hoorn

Auditions

Saturday, June 29th & Sunday, June 30th at 1pm

Location: Corn Stock Theatre Center

Auditions will be held at Corn Stock at the Winter Playhouse. After filling out the audition sheet, everyone will first be seen individually by the audition team. Please prepare one of the included monologues to perform. Monologues don’t need to be memorized but it’ll help to be familiar with them. After everyone’s had a chance to perform their monologues, auditions will consist of cold readings of group scenes from the script, round robin style.

If you have any questions about what to prepare, do not hesitate to contact the director either on Facebook or at  van.hoorn.jacob@gmail.com

Summary:

Jake Van Hoorn and Corn Stock Theatre invite you to audition for The Mousetrap, the world’s longest-running play! After a local woman is murdered, the guests and staff at Monkswell Manor find themselves stranded during a snowstorm. It soon becomes clear that the killer is among them, and the seven strangers grow increasingly suspicious of one another. A police detective, arriving on skis, interrogates the suspects: the newlyweds running the house; a spinster with a curious background; an architect who seems better equipped to be a chef; a retired Army major; a strange little man who claims his car has overturned in a drift; and a jurist who makes life miserable for everyone. When a second murder takes place, tensions and fears escalate. This record-breaking murder mystery features a brilliant surprise finish from Dame Agatha Christie, the foremost mystery writer of her time.

Characters:

MOLLIE RALSTON – (30s-40s) A newlywed who has inherited Monkswell Manor and has opened it as a guesthouse with her husband. A hospitable and warm, if slightly naive, hostess and cook.

GILES RALSTON – (30s-40s) The more cautious proprietor of Monkswell Manor. Supportive of his wife, but less thrilled to run a guesthouse. A traditional gentleman who’s quick to judge his guests.

CHRISTOPHER WREN – (20s-30s) A young architect with a flamboyant and often inappropriate sense of humor. His energetic conversation can appear both lighthearted and sinister.

MRS. BOYLE – (Old) A retiree whose acerbic tone makes her a challenging guest. Strong-willed and uncompromising, with high expectations. Pleased only when expressing disappointment.

MAJOR METCALF – (50s-70s) An affable guest who is willing to help his hosts cope with the consequences of the snowstorm. Retired from the army, steady and calm in the face of conflict.

MISS CASEWELL – (30s-40s) A modern and somewhat aloof young woman travelling on business. Unwilling to discuss private matters and disinterested in the opinion of her fellow guests.

PARAVICINI– (50s-60s) A roguish gentleman who is not forthcoming about his reasons for being there. Delights in the guests’ uncertainty and pays particular attention to his hostess, Mollie.

DETECTIVE SGT. TROTTER – (30s-40s) The young detective assigned to reach Monkswell Manor and report on the situation as it unfolds. Determined and authoritative in his pursuit of the truth.

Casting Note: While there are certain traits the eight actors must portray, it has become evident over 70 years of performances that Christie’s script and characterization allow for great flexibility of the interpretation and embodiment of each role.

Monologues

Christopher: How do you do? Terrible weather isn’t it? This takes one back to Dickens and Scrooge and that irritating Tiny Tim. So bogus. My taxi gave up at your gate. Wouldn’t attempt the drive. No sporting instinct. …You know you’re not at all as how I’d pictured you. I’ve been thinking of you as a retired general’s widow, Indian Army and that the whole place would be crammed with Benares brass. Instead it’s heavenly-quite heavenly! I’m simply going to love this place! I don’t believe your husband is going to like me. How long have you been married? Are you very much in love? I do like knowing about people. I mean, I think people are so madly interesting. Don’t you?

Mrs. Boyle: The taxi wouldn’t risk coming up the drive. It stopped at the gate. We had to share a taxi from the station – and there was great difficulty in getting that. (accusingly) Nothing ordered to meet us it seems. All trains should have been met. The drive might at least have been cleared of snow. Most offhand and casual I must say. You’ve very young to be running an establishment of this kind. Quite inexperienced. I would’ve said that a proper staff of servants was essential before opening this kind of establishment. I consider your advertisement was most misleading. This is a very old house. I hope you haven’t got dry rot.

Paravicini: Yes-the unexpected guest. The guest you did not invite. The guest who just arrived-from nowhere-out of the storm. It sounds quite dramatic, does it not? Who am I? You do not know.  Where do I come from? You do not know. Me, I am the man of mystery. (He laughs) But now, I tell you this. I complete the picture. From now on there will be no more arrivals. And no departures either. By tomorrow-perhaps even already-we are cut off from civilization. No butcher, no baker, no milkman, no postman, no daily papers-nobody and nothing but ourselves. That is admirable-admirable. It could not suit me better.

Trotter: As the Superintendent sees it, there must be a connection. You’d planned to come here in advance. You’d booked your rooms ahead. What I’m getting at is that anyone who’s been following you around might very well know you were coming here. Now, there’s just one thing to know and I want to know and I want to know it quick. Which one of you is it that has some connection to that business at Longridge Farm? …You’re not being very sensible, you know. One of you is in danger-deadly danger. I’ve got know which one that is.

Production Staff

Jake Van Hoorn – Director

Bill Barr – Stage Manager

Adrianne Yoder – Costumes

Jes King – Props

Wayne Carey – Lights

Jimmy Lahood – Sound

Chip Joyce – Set Design

Aaron Elwell – Set Construction

Briana Vior-Van Hoorn-Production Secretary

Contact Information

Jake Van Hoorn – van.hoorn.jacob@gmail.com