Mystery arrives in Spokane Valley

  • 2020-02-29
A play by arguably the world's most popular mystery writer will be given several performances in Spokane Valley.

Agatha Christie wrote her play “The Unexpected Guest” in 1958. Though best known for her mystery novels—she wrote 82—Christie also wrote 19 plays. One of them, “The Mousetrap,” premiered in 1952 and is still on stage in London, making it the longest-running play in theatrical history thus far.

“The Unexpected Guest” uses many of the conventions of this genre. A stranger becomes lost in a dense fog, and arrives at an isolated county house where he walks into a crime scene—a man has been shot dead and his wife is holding a gun. The woman confesses, but the stranger doesn't believe her, and gets involved in the drama. Secrets are revealed, lies emerge, and there is a surprise ending.

The play is part of the Booklight Productions series, and is a traditional reader's theater event. The actors do not memorize the lines, use costumes, props, special effects or lighting. Instead, they sit or stand behind music stands with scripts. They do not simply read lines; they give a performance, putting all the emphasis on the text.

“The Unexpected Guest” will be performed at the Ignite Community Theater in Spokane Valley, March 20-22. Tickets are sold only at the door, and are $5. The performance begins at 7.30 on Friday and Saturday, and 2.00 pm on Sunday. Poster printing can provide attractive advertising for this type of event.