The Valley Players seek local actors for ‘The Mousetrap’

July 17, 2024  |  By Waterbury Roundabout 

The Valley Players will hold auditions on July 28 and 30 for their October production of the classic  Agatha Christie play “The Mousetrap.”

Auditions will be held on Sunday, July 28, at 4 p.m. and Tuesday, July 30, at 6:30 p.m. at the Valley Players Theater on Main Street (Vermont Route 100) in Waitsfield. 

Part murder mystery and part psychological thriller, the play offers roles for eight actors: three are female-presenting and five roles are male-presenting. Actors of any gender may audition for any role, however the roles will be played according to the gender specified in the script, according to Director Ruth Ann Pattee.

The story: After a local woman is murdered, the guests and staff at a countryside inn just outside of London 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. When a second murder takes place, tensions and fears escalate. Brimming with intrigue, sophisticated humor, and surprising twists, Agatha Christie's iconic murder mystery is the world’s most successful and longest-running play.

Auditions involve reading scenes from the play in an open forum. There is no need to memorize anything but a familiarity with the script and the characters is recommended. The script can be read at local libraries. Descriptions of the characters and the portions of the script that will be used at auditions are available at valleyplayers.com/the-mousetrap. 

If needed, callbacks will be held on Thursday, Aug. 1, at 6:30 p.m. Rehearsals will begin on Aug. 3 and will be held on Sundays, 3-5:30 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30-9 p.m. Not all actors will need to attend every rehearsal until September. 

Show dates are Fridays-Sundays, Oct. 4-20. Email Director Ruth Ann Pattee for more information at ruthann@valleyplayers.com.