'Kaddiki' — A classic whodunnit mystifies audiences at theatre fest

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 6

For the lovers of a chilling murder mystery served cold, the dame of mysteries Agatha Christie has been a go-to writer. The best-selling author and one of the most celebrated crime fiction writers, Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” is not only a genre-defining play but also holds a record for longest running play in any genre.

By adapting “The Mousetrap” into a Punjabi theatrical version, director Pritpal Rupana’s presentation “Kaddiki’ (A trap) was the fifth play to be staged at Virsa Vihar in the ongoing Punjab Theatre Festival here.

A classic whodunnit that plays out its murder mystery with twists that might make the audience shift in their seat, “Kaddiki” was a true adaption of “The Mousetrap”, with similar character arcs and narration.

Several strangers are stuck inside a mansion due to heavy snow and bad weather, none knowing the fact that among them is a murderer. As the story progresses, characters arcs are revealed, the distrust among them, the hidden agendas are revealed as a slow burn until the last-minute twist ending.

Rupana, the director of the play and noted theatre person, said “Kaddiki” was a tribute to the Queen of crime Agatha Christie. “The Mousetrap has had over 27,000 shows from 1953 to 2019. The play is classic in its story telling and development, and adapting it for stage was a challenge I loved working on. The play was received well and while the story remained true to its inspiration, we added a bit of Punjabi elements to it.”

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