Whitewater Times

Mary Ann Lazzell, a freshman at Maranatha Baptist University, is taking on the role of Mollie Ralston in the fall production of "The Mousetrap," directed by Stephen Robertson. Lazzell is balancing her academic responsibilities with rehearsals and other extracurricular activities.

Stephen Robertson has been leading the cast and crew for nearly a month. "The play really is on schedule," Robertson says. Despite initial challenges during auditions, he chose Mary Ann for her dedication. "I was confident that Mary Ann had the drive to memorize all the lines … I knew that she would do her best to pull off the character."

Mary Ann's portrayal of Mollie Ralston involves over 250 lines, making it a significant role in this murder mystery. "Mollie gets to experience so many things," she says. "She is intelligent … doing whatever she can to pursue the truth."

In addition to acting, Mary Ann participates in various musical activities and maintains her studies. She states, “I LOVE what I’m doing...all I’m doing brings a lot of joy into my life.”

One challenge Mary Ann faces is differentiating between her own personality and that of Mollie's. "You must fully be your character … You must be intentional in portraying someone else," she admits.

Robertson acknowledges this challenge as well: “The character is not Mary Ann...the amount of nuances Mary Ann must portray means that I have to trust her to make every scene solid.”

Co-actress Leah Philips praises Mary Ann’s commitment: “Long story short, she’s making sure she does her part well, and she pours everything into it.”

"The Mousetrap" promises more than just entertainment. “[The Mousetrap] has helped me rethink the depth of human nature,” Mary Ann says.

Robertson, an Agatha Christie fan, anticipates a successful production: “The challenge is to see if you can figure the mystery out.” Philips adds that it will appeal to anyone who enjoys a good story.

Performances are scheduled for November 14-16 at Maranatha Baptist University gymnasium.