‘Subhedar Guesthouse,' a play written by Shirish Dekhane and directed by Vijay Kenkare, remains a landmark in the thriving Marathi theatre industry for its impeccable reenactment of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. The mystery drama holds onto the intrigue till the very end.

The ensemble cast presented a fantastic performance. The actors were in sync with their characters, which rendered ingenuity to the collective presentation. Another highlight of the play is that all characters are given weightage in equal measure. The story became the protagonist rather than a single dominating entity.

Although the play centrally strings onto mystery, the drama maintained a jolly mood, evoking laughter in between through witty and invigorating dialogues.

The set design was extraordinary, able to trap the eyes without a blink. Overall, the setup was vintage with motifs like a radio and rotary dial telephone. The costumes exuded authenticity. As a result, the audience would find the characters enticing yet relatable.

The play opens with an eerie, dark, wintry night with a lady searching for an auto rickshaw amidst a heavy rainfall in Kolhapur. However, her acts are interrupted by a mysterious stranger shrouded in a raincoat whispering her name. The lady is intermediately panicked before she is brutally shot at with bullets. The suspenseful character then disappears into the thin air. The next scene then jumps into the hallway of Subhedar Guesthouse, managed by the couple Chitra and Vinay.

Chitra (played by Mrunmayee Gondhalekar) is a welcoming hostess with the mostest. Chitra inherited the Subhedar Guesthouse and is dedicated to continuing the legacy. She is highly passionate about her work and maintains a casual demeanor. She is consistently on the lookout for fulfilling the needs of her guests. She ensures that the guests are comfortable with their routine. However, the doubt that one of her guests is the murderer makes her apprehensive.

Vinay (played by Saurabh Gokhale) is the caring and supportive husband who offers his wife Chitra a helping hand in managing the Subhedar Guesthouse. He makes sure that his wife remains protected in a hall full of strangers. Vinay too looks after the guests; however, he is straightforward in habit, unlike Chitra, who prefers to be congenial. His honest approach to situations and arguments remain a highlight of his personality.

The guests at Subhedar Guesthouse have unique personalities that remain unforgettable to the audience. Each character commands a one-of-its-kind quirk. Amit (played by Angad Mhaskar) arrives first. As the drama progresses, Amit is shown to be possessive and concerned about Chitra, which irks her husband Vinay. Amit, however, also contributes significantly to the comedic element.

Mrs. Tikekar (played by Vinita Date) is the ever-complaining middle-aged lady who finds the rest of the members troublesome. Mrs. Tikekar is not at all shy when it comes to expressing her dissent. She is unsatisfied with the food and services of the Subhedar lodge and makes sure that Chitra, Vinay, and the rest of the guests remember her disagreements.

Then there is Major Thorat (played by Rohit Deshmukh). He comes from an army background. He is well-built with a commanding voice. He maintains a cordial behavior throughout. Despite his superior stature as a veteran officer, he gels well with the rest of the characters. He attracts attention but never overshadows others.

Sapna (played by Sana Kulkarni) hails from Indore. She speaks a mix of Hindi and Marathi with a very catchy and bold accent. She arrives at the guesthouse for a quiet retreat. Her presence can be described as 'Bindhast,' a local Marathi adjective for a fearless and confident person. However, her background reeks of unknown mystery.

Mr. Banerjee (played by Anand Patil) comes from Kolkata. He is a zesty Bengali man who is shown to be fond of people and his smoking pipe. He is also a learned musician adept at playing piano. He often sings and whistles the famous song ‘Gumnaam Hai Koi.' His speech is a beautiful sound of Marathi words spoken in an authentic Bengali accent. He decides to stay at the guesthouse because his car is stuck in the thunderstorm.

Last but not least is Inspector Bhosale (played by Shantanu Moghe). He is the one who reveals that the murderer is hiding in Subhedar Guesthouse. His character insinuates the audience and adds layers of perplexity. He is an amalgamation of thrill, fear, and suspense. He spares no one with his roving interrogations. He is on a mission to catch the culprit and stays determined in his efforts.

The background score accentuates the suspense with its mysterious tone. The track literally gives you goosebumps. The lyrics align with the dramatic motive. The title song is composed to be enchanting yet evasive. You cannot help but hear the song on repeat in your mind. The hook is mind-blowing and sticks with you for its intensity.

In conclusion, the audience is compelled to wait till the very end to find out who the murderer is and his reasons for committing the crime. Subhedar Guesthouse is recommended for those who are searching for a visual trail of adventure and entertainment. The play beckons you to guess and remain an active participant in solving the puzzle. The play instigates you to pay attention to the complexity of human relationships while stirring your conscience. So watchout!