An eclectic group of people meet at a guest house with deadly consequences.
Photo Credit: © JOHAN PERSSON
The Mousetrap has been running since 1952 and has become a West End institution in its own right attracting tourists from across the globe and the West End. It is perhaps Agatha Christie’s most intriguing play where the audience is sworn to secrecy of the outcome. Now this intriguing and intense whodunnit is on tour and is a must for all fans of the author and the Murder Mystery genre.
The play follows a well-known recipe where a collection of individuals are brought together under tenuous circumstances, and during the play have their characters exposed by the dogged detective in pursuit of the truth. The remote location of the house with poor weather and no telephone adds to the suspense and tension remained throughout the whole production.
Agatha Christie’s humour keeps the events lighthearted and funny, but there are plenty of twists and turns that keep the audience guessing until the end about who is responsible for the guests’ demise. The cast is a well-balanced group who complement each other well, and each of the characters’ backstories develops to leave plenty of guessing to be done at the interval. Of course, it is wide open at that point, but it is fun to test your detective skills.
Related: Amelie The Musical theatre review
There is the young and naive Mr. and Mrs. Ralston (Nick Biadon and Harriet Hare) who run the guest house; the humorous Lewis Chandler as Chris Wren who is both a source of entertainment and pathos for his boyish behaviour; Major Metcalf (John Griffiths), a gruff refined ex-military gentleman; Mrs Boyle ( Susan Penhaligon) who has high expectations and is constantly disappointed that they were not met. Miss Casewell (Saskia Vaigncourt-Strallen) as a terse abrupt lady who keeps herself to herself. Sergeant Trotter (Geoff Arnold), an inquisitive, intense man, and Mr Paravicini (David Alcock), the man who struggles to understand and engage with the English way of doing things.
The cast puts in a strong performance, the pace of dialogue doesn’t drag, and the characters are in some cases wickedly amusing. However, there is still the question of whether this play stands on its own merits or is its audience is driven by intrigue to see why it has been going for so long.
But this is a legendary Agatha Christie play and will appeal to anyone who enjoys her genre of theatre.
The Mousetrap is running at the New Victoria Theatre until 7th September 2019 before continuing on its nationwide tour.
