Cardinal Points

Issue date: 11/10/06 Section: Life

Media Credit: tetsuro takehana Chris Ryder, Christian Amato and Katie Marcinko perform a scene in Plattsburgh State University College's Theatre Department's production of "The Mousetrap".

Imagine every British stereotype you can.

Stiff, proper, flamboyant, funny accent - you get the idea.

Now put all of those stereotypes together into one play, add an Italian vacationer who looks like The Penguin, a murder mystery and a nursery rhyme and you'll have an idea of what Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap" is all about.

That's the show the Plattsburgh State University College theatre department presented this weekend.

In essence, the play is about eight strangers living in a guest house in the outer London countryside during a blizzard.

One of the characters may or may not be a murderer who likes to whistle Three Blind Mice, and two of them may or may not be prospective targets.

The cast the theatre department put together for the play includes Katie Marcinko in the lead role of Mollie Ralston, Chris Ryder as her husband Giles, and Eric Auld as Sergeant Trotter, who leads the investigation.

The cast is rounded out by Tyler Nye, Marisa Gore, George Trevlakis, Bridget Dunigan and Christian Amato.

Nye gives a colorful and flamboyant turn as young Christopher Wren, with Gore as the pampered, controlling Mrs. Boyle.

Trevlakis turns up the military British accent of Major Metcalf, Dunigan as Mrs. Casewell, the independent woman, and Amato as Mr. Paravacini, in a hilariously over-the-top performance as the foreign vacationer.

"The Mousetrap" was directed by the theatre department's Ken Roberts.

The plot contained a twist ending, and, although the script was written 60 years ago, the cast made the most of what they were given.

Audience members seemed to appreciate the effort being put forth by the actors, with Nye and Amato receiving the better share of the laughs with their no-holds-barred performances.

The characters they played displayed as many British stereotypes as could be imagined by the audience.

The British accents put on for the performance, which at first seemed slightly forced and unnatural, soon fell into place and it was almost forgettable that the actors were not using their native inflections.

There were times, though, when it was more obvious than others that the accents were being faked, but for the most part they came off very well and quite tuned.

"I thought the actors did a great job, they all knew their characters very well," PSUC sophomore Kellie Amyot said. "The set was fantastic."

Steven Hebert, a part-time theater student from Clinton County Community College, said, "I felt it was a great show. The cast did a fantastic job. The set was spectacular and I felt the audience enjoyed it immensely."

The theatre department's presentation of Christie's "The Mousetrap" serves as a clear reminder that PSUC has its fair share of students with theatrical talents and the undisputable ability to perform.

Sophomore Natalie Edghill attended the event.

"It was an enjoyable and humorous play," she said.

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