Mexico City, March 7, 2023.— The production of *The Mousetrap*, by Agatha Christie, and the company of Panamericana University Panamericana has not been left behind in paying tribute to it.
The Mousetrap
Directed by Victoria Carreras Cruz, the production of *The Mousetrap*—which premiered in London in 1952 and has never been adapted for film—took two semesters to complete and featured 21 students from their first through ninth semesters in various degree programs, including Law, Education, Business, Engineering, Communication, ESDAI, Music and Innovation, and Psychology.
This story follows Giles and Mollie Ralston, a young married couple who are opening their new bed-and-breakfast on the outskirts of London. Little do they suspect that their brand-new business will, for a few days, become the epicenter of a macabre criminal game, with a killer on the loose among their guests.
A Multifaceted Approach
Vicky Carreras has been a choreographer and performing arts director for 40 years. She is currently the director of the Data Intelligence and Cybersecurity Engineering program; she has been a choreographer for the UP Theater Company for 10 years; and she has served as its artistic director for just two years.
Regarding the opportunity she had to direct the production of *The Mousetrap*, she states: “I’m so proud to have directed it because it’s a play that not many directors dare to tackle due to the complexity of the script, the dual interpretation of the characters’ psyches, the amount of text each actor must handle, and the dynamism required on stage.”
“It was precisely for all of the above reasons that I decided to take on this challenge, so that Teatro UP could be proud to have presented it,” he adds regarding the challenge.
Post-Pandemic Challenges
Carreras explains that the production, in addition to taking place in a single location, relies exclusively on the actors' performances, which was a huge challenge for the students, who had just come out of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The kids had a hard time concentrating, memorizing the lines, and learning the movements, because it’s also a very dynamic play. We had to ask the educational psychologist to help us develop exercises with the students to improve their concentration and memory, ”says the director.
Financial resources were another constraint, as they were truly limited; that’s why Vicky explains that the set design consists simply of printed tarps and the costumes “came from our own closets or those of our families.”
Excellent acting
Given the importance of acting in the play *The Mousetrap*, the director recalls that, to instill confidence in the cast, she chose not to tell them what they were up against: “(…) I always made it clear to them that they were capable of playing their roles, and every day I asked more and more of them. They were afraid; even though I didn’t tell them so, they sensed the complexity, but I kept pushing them to reach the goal.”
“One fine day, the play came together completely; they began to flesh out their characters and pull off the necessary plot twists. In short, they made the play their own. Then, and only then, did I tell them that I admired them immensely for what they had achieved and that they had emerged victorious from an enormous challenge, ” he recounts.
He continues:“They stared at me wide-eyed when I told them that the play had only been performed once before in Mexico because of the level of difficulty it posed for professional actors.”
That is why she says she is immensely proud and grateful for the effort and sacrifice that the production required from each member of Teatro UP. The challenge was successfully overcome: “I have rarely seen this level of acting at Teatro UP, ” she attests.
Artistic and Professional Development
UP Theater isn’t just for a specific type of student. Being part of a theatrical production helps young people hone their public speaking skills, develop structured thinking, improve their capacity for abstract thought, and enhance their empathy and memory. It also helps them with physical coordination and language skills, and teaches them to work as a team and solve problems.
María de la Luz Soní Rico, an education major who plays Mrs. Boyle in *La Ratonera*, says she was motivated to join the theater company because it offered her “the opportunity to develop my artistic side and integrate it into my academic and professional life. ( …) My fellow cast members have become like family to me.”
She also says: “It has helped me grow in general. I’ve learned to truly work as a team toward a common goal, to take initiative and contribute ideas, to express myself, and, above all, to empathize with others.”
But Diego Morales Gómez, a student in the Data Intelligence and Cybersecurity Engineering program, explains that the artistic side isn't the only area students can develop at Teatro UP.
He, who works in the technical department of the company—specifically handling audio—says, “There are many areas where you can learn various values, such as teamwork and discipline, and gain experience through them.”
He notes that his involvement has opened other doors: “Thanks to the opportunity Vicky Carreras gave me to join the company, I’m doing my community service outside of UP, since a producer from another company reached out to me to help with their productions.”
Would you like to join Teatro UP? Email mx_arteycultura@up.edu.mx
