photo_mouse_5Welcome to the world’s preeminent whodunit – Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap and I can’t think of a better way to follow up the runaway success of Ring of Fire. Now in its 63rd year in London’s West End, The Mousetrap is the world’s longest consecutively running play for very good reason… as you’re about to discover. One warning is that this run in Chemainus won’t be nearly as long so please tell your friends to book in soon because the show must close May 30 as we prepare for the British invasion.

“Noah’s Ark was built by volunteers; the Titanic was built by professionals.”

Volunteer appreciation week is in April and that’s one of my favorite quotes about the value of volunteers. Volunteers have truly kept the good ship Chemainus Theatre afloat through our first 23 years. There’s no doubt in my mind that we wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the selfless contribution of volunteers. This past year alone 154 people volunteered a total of 6,127 hours. Checking coats, showing us to our seats, building costumes, pulling weeds, helping in the office, serving on the board of directors… no task is too great or too small.

Volunteerism is one of the things that makes Canada the greatest place to live on Earth. Each year 12.7 million Canadians give 2 billion hours of time. Next chance you have be it here or elsewhere, say thank you to the volunteers who are giving their time to make your life better.

It’s time to sit back, relax, and enter fully into the world of the play. Thank you for joining us today and by doing so, supporting live professional theatre on Vancouver Island.

Randal Huber