Category Archives: Norman Gouveia

Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” is Opening at the Brush Creek Playhouse

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Brush Creek Theatre Presents Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap”!

Join us for Brush Creek’s production of the world’s longest-running play! Since its London debut in the fall of 1952, Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” has thrilled audiences for over seven decades. Now, this finely crafted dramatic mystery is coming to the Brush Creek stage!

Performance Schedule:

Friday, June 7, 7 pm
Saturday, June 8, 7 pm
Sunday, June 9, 2 pm

Friday, June 14, 7 pm
Saturday, June 15, 7 pm
Sunday, June 16, 2 pm

Friday, June 21, 7 pm
Saturday, June 22, 7 pm
Sunday, June 23, 2 pm

Reserved seat tickets can be purchased at the show’s ticketing website https://our.show/bcp-mousetrap (yes, that’s a brand-new feature at Brush Creek!) for just $12 ($10 for children, seniors 60 and over, and students).

About the Play: After a local woman is murdered, the guests and staff at Monkswell Manor 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: the newlyweds running the house; a spinster with a curious background; an architect who seems better equipped to be a chef; a retired Army major; a strange little man who claims his car has overturned in a drift; and a jurist who makes life miserable for everyone. When a second murder takes place, tensions and fears escalate. This record-breaking murder mystery features a brilliant surprise finish from Dame Agatha Christie, the foremost mystery writer of her time.

Cast of Characters:

  • Mollie Ralston: The young owner of Monkswell Manor.
  • Giles Ralston: Mollie’s husband and co-host of Monkswell Manor.
  • Christopher Wren: A neurotic young guest at Monkswell Manor.
  • Mrs. Boyle: A stern and unpleasant guest.
  • Major Metcalf: A retired British military officer.
  • Miss Casewell: A mysterious and aloof guest.
  • Mr. Paravicini: An unexpected guest stranded by a blizzard.
  • Detective Sergeant Trotter: A detective investigating a local murder.

Don’t miss your chance to experience this thrilling production! “The Mousetrap” promises intrigue, suspense, and a surprise ending that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Ticket information for all our shows, as it becomes available, can always be found at https://www.onthestage.tickets/brush-creek-players

Open auditions for Agatha Christie’s “Mousetrap” on April 22 & 23

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Come join Brush Creek’s production of the world’s longest-running play! Having opened in London in the fall of 1952, The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie has been in continuous production for more than seven decades. And this finely crafted dramatic mystery is coming to the Brush Creek stage!

We are holding open auditions at the following dates and times:

6 pm Monday, April 22

6 pm Tuesday, April 23

The show will perform three weekends, opening Friday, June 7, and closing Sunday, June 23. Interested actors of all experience levels are encouraged to audition either or both dates. No preparation is needed to audition — the director will rely on cold readings from the script (and perhaps other exercises) to cast the following characters:

Mollie Ralston: the wife of Giles Ralston, Mollie is the young owner of Monkswell Manor, a Victorian era estate that has recently been converted into a guest house.

Giles Ralston: Mollie’s husband of one year, Giles is the co-host of Monkswell Manor.

Christopher Wren: A flighty, obviously neurotic young man, Chrisopher Wren is a guest at Monkswell Manor.

Mrs. Boyle: Stern and generally unpleasant, Mrs. Boyle is a guest at Monkswell Manor.

Major Metcalf: A typical retired British military officer, Major Metcalf is a guest at Monkswell Manor.

Miss Casewell: Miss Casewell, another guest at Monkswell Manor, remains mysteriously aloof from the other guests.

Mr. Paravicini: An unexpected guest at Monkswell Manor, Mr. Paravicini is there only because his car became stuck in a snowbank during a terrible blizzard.

Detective Sergeant Trotter: A late arriving guest at Monkswell Manor, Detective Trotter is trying to establish a relationship between any of the guests and a recent murder at another location.

Summary of Play from Publisher:

After a local woman is murdered, the guests and staff at Monkswell Manor 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: the newlyweds running the house; a spinster with a curious background; an architect who seems better equipped to be a chef; a retired Army major; a strange little man who claims his car has overturned in a drift; and a jurist who makes life miserable for everyone. When a second murder takes place, tensions and fears escalate. This record-breaking murder mystery features a brilliant surprise finish from Dame Agatha Christie, the foremost mystery writer of her time.

You can reach Director Norman Gouveia with any questions by e-mail at NormanJr1@msn.com or by voice or text at (503)871-6788.

 

“Rustler’s Revenge” Opens July 29 — with a Preview on July 28

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As the cast enters the final week of rehearsal, the Rustlers are preparing to exact their revenge in Brush Creek’s 2023 summer melodrama, The Rustler’s Revenge, by D. Chappelle. As always, there are villains, heroes, sidekicks and heroines! Come join the fun.

Brush Creek’s production, which is directed by Brush Creek stalwart Norman Gouveia, begins its three-weekend run on July 28, although the first Friday performance (July 28 at 7 pm) will be a “pay what you will” preview.

Performances will be at 7 pm Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 pm on Sundays, with the final performance on Sunday, August 13.

As always, reserved seat tickets are available from our two ticket-selling partners:

Tickets: $10 ($8 for children, students & seniors)

Runaway Art & Craft Studio (cash or credit)
4675 Commercial St SE (Cherry City Center) in South Salem
(503)881-3001
(Closed Mondays)

Books-N-Time (cash only)
210 N. Water, Suite B in downtown Silverton
(503)874-4311
(Variable hours at present — probably open as normal, but you may want to call first)

Both these businesses support Brush Creek by providing these services at no cost. So thank them for their support — and feel free to check out their merchandise while you’re in the store!

Check the Tickets tab above for the seating chart and other information.

Remaining tickets (at least 10) available at the door beginning 30 minutes before each performance. 

Contact Michael Wood at (503)508-3682 for more information.

Tickets for “Rustlers of Red Rock” Go on Sale March 13

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Brush Creek Players are back — with our 2022 melodrama!

Tickets go on sale Sunday, March 13 for The Rustlers of Red Rock, written by D. Chappelle and directed by Norman Gouveia.

We are confident we will have plenty of tickets at the door (even with reduced seating, but you can get tickets in advance at Runaway Art & Craft Studio at 4675 Commercial SE in Salem (a new South Salem location for our Salem ticket-selling partner) or at   Books-N-Time at 210 N. Water in Silverton (same location — but a new owner — for our Silverton partner).

The production will open Friday, March 18 and run for three weekends, to close on Sunday, April 3. Performances begin at 7 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 pm on Sundays. If you decide to buy your tickets at the door, you should plan to be there at least 15 minutes early.

Evil Villain, Innocent Heroine, and a Dashing Hero!

All is not well at the Circle D Wagons Ranch. Sweet and innocent ranch owner Blossom White, her mother Lily and faithful ranch hand Quiet Harry are working hard to keep the ranch in the black, or at least out of the red.

Unfortunately, they are plagued by rustler Black Bart Bushwacker, who has wrangled a job as their “trusted” foreman, who is hard at work with his secret partner, Scarlett Vixen.

Will no one be able to stop these villains? The White family’s ooooooonlyyyyy hope appears to be Steve Dashing. Can he save the day!

Tickets are still just $10 (and only $8 for children, students & seniors)

Contact Michael Wood at (503)508-3682 for more information or if you want to make a group ticket purchase.

Dracula comes to Brush Creek’s stage just in time for Halloween!

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The cast and crew of Brush Creek’s production of Dracula are well on their way to bringing this tale of terror to the Brush Creek stage!

Brush Creek’s show opens a on Friday, October 18, and will run through Sunday, November 3. In addition to the normal performances scheduled for 7 pm Friday and Saturdays and 2 pm Sundays, Brush Creek has scheduled a special Halloween performance at 7 pm Thursday, October 31. Come to the Halloween performance in a (genuine) costume and get $2 off the price of admission!

Director Norman Gouveia is looking forward to opening night, which will offer a real treat to audiences interested in the classic tale. The script by John L. Balderston and Hamilton Deane is a direct adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic novel.

In the tale, Lucy Seward, whose father is the doctor in charge of an English sanatorium, has been attacked by some mysterious illness. Dr. Van Helsing, a specialist, believes that the girl is the victim of a vampire, a sort of ghost that goes about at night sucking blood from its victims. The vampire is at last found to be a certain Count Dracula, whose ghost is finally laid to rest in a striking and novel manner. The play is intended for all who love thrills in the theater, and is appropriate for all groups.

Reserved seat tickets go on sale the weekend of October 5 at both our ticket-selling partners, Books-N-Time at 210 N. Water St in downtown Silverton and Runaway Art & Craft Studio at 311 Commercial St. NE in downtown Salem. Tickets are just $10 ($8 for seniors 60 and over, children 12 and under, and students with ID). Tickets are also available at the door beginning 30 minutes before each performance.

Call Michael Wood at (503)508-3682 with questions or to inquire about group sales.

Melodrama “Little Nell” runs from May 10 through May 26

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Brush Creek Playhouse is bringing back on of our favorite melodramas — after a hiatus of nearly 14 years! Tickets on sale now!

Be sure to get your tickets for Brush Creek’s annual melodrama, “Little Nell,” written by John Nash and directed by Norman Gouveia. This is one of our favorite melodramas, but it has been quite a while since we last performed it. We are happy to have Nell and her family “grace” our stage again.

All the beloved characters are present – the large awkward, wig-wearing heroine, Little Nell; the slinky mustachioed villain, Carlton Bainbridge; and the affable, lovable, but-oh-so-slow hero, Hector Skyscraper. Revolving around the classic plot of “Marry-me-or-I’ll-foreclose,” you’ll want to cry with the heroine, hiss the villain and applaud the hero! All in great fun!

The production opens on May 10 for a three-weekend run ending May 26. Performances are at 7 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, with 2 pm matinees on all 3 Sundays. You can purchase your reserved-seat tickets for just $10 ($8 for children, seniors 60 and over, and students) at either of our two ticket-selling partners, Books N Time on downtown Silverton’s Water Street or Runaway Art and Craft Studio on downtown Salem’s NE Commercial.

You also can purchase tickets at the door beginning 30 minutes before each performance. For group sales or questions call Michael Wood at (503)508-3682.