Theater Review : ‘Mousetrap’: Catch of the Day

“The Mousetrap,” by Agatha Christie, has been playing continuously in London since 1952--which makes it the longest running play ever. There must be a reason. And after all these years, it can’t just be the secret of whodunit.

Maybe it’s the chance the play gives actors, generation after generation, to re-create characters that are plummy and idiosyncratic. In any case, that’s exactly what’s happening under Darlene Hunter-Chaffee’s direction at the Huntington Beach Library.

Without giving anything away to those who have not seen this play, the story centers on the opening of the Monkswell Manor Guest House in the English countryside. Mollie Ralston has inherited the property and plans to operate it with her husband, Giles. Their first roster of guests, during an immense snowstorm, is an odd lot: a flighty, fey young architect; a female ex-magistrate; a mannish British woman expatriate; a Col. Blimp ex-officer, and a mysterious Italian whose auto just happened to flip over just outside the manor.

There is also a dashing police sergeant who has skied through the woods in an effort to solve a murder in London, where a clue indicated that the killer’s next victim would be found at the manor.

Although some of the scenes move a little slowly, Hunter-Chaffee has timed the culminating action expertly, particularly several silent scenes where tension mounts as the guests wait for something--what?--to happen. She also has captured the aura surrounding a lonely British manor house enveloped by storm.

And though the British accents don’t always sound as natural as they might, they are accurate and effective, carefully not overdone.

As Mollie and Giles, Lara Doucette and Darren Boyette manifest a nice sense of naivete and wonder that works well. Tracy London’s expatriate is crisp and hard-edged as she should be, and the starchy quality of Ann Hodgkinson’s retired magistrate is totally Christie.

Jim McElenny’s Major Metcalf mumbles and grumbles admirably, and Gary Page’s policeman sounds and acts like cops do everywhere.

Still, a sometimes needed shot in the arm is provided by two actors who have played their roles before: Michael Leslie White as the architect (whose name is Christopher Wren, a delicious Christie red herring) and Michael Scott Davies as the Italian. White is opulently extroverted while keeping his lustful eyes on the policeman, and Davies sniffs about as suspiciously as a greedy ferret.

* “The Mousetrap,” Huntington Beach Library, 7111 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach. Thursday through Saturday, 8 p.m., Sunday, 2 p.m. Ends Sept. 11. $9-$12. (714) 375-0696. Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes. Lara Doucette: Mollie Ralston

Darren Boyette: Giles Ralston

Michael Leslie White: Christopher Wren

Ann Hodgkinson: Mrs. Boyle

Jim McElenny: Major Metcalf

Tracy London: Miss Casewell

Michael Scott Davies: Mr. Paravicini

Gary Page: Det. Sgt. Trotter

A Huntington Beach Playhouse production of a mystery by Agatha Christie, produced by Charles Varney and Patricia M. Powers, directed by Darlene Hunter-Chaffee. Technical/set/lighting design: Martin G. Eckmann. Sound design: Jerry Ram. Costume design: April Jackson. Stage manager: Maria Bercovitz.