Review: THE MOUSETRAP, The Alexandra - Tour
Photo credit: Matt Crockett
Everybody loves a good whodunnit, and it doesn’t get much more classic than Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. First opening in the West End in 1952, it has been keeping audiences guessing for almost 75 years and is now the longest-running play in theatre history. That’s a lot of people trying to work out who did it! Christie, often hailed as the Queen of Crime, wrote over 60 detective novels and created some of the world’s most famous fictional detectives, including Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. So, with a cast full of suspicious characters, a murder to solve and decades of experience in keeping audiences guessing, can The Mousetrap still surprise us?
For anyone yet to experience it, it’s the early 1950s and newlyweds Mollie and Giles Ralston are opening their very first guesthouse, Monkswell Manor. A small group of strangers arrive as heavy snow cuts them off from the outside world. When a murder takes place, it quickly becomes clear that the killer is among them and everyone has something to hide. With secrets emerging, suspicions mounting and another murder seemingly inevitable, the audience is invited to play detective alongside the characters. But in a story designed to keep you guessing, can you really spot the clues before the final reveal?
We begin with a William Morris sofa in the lounge area, and we remain here for the entire play. It works exceedingly well. The use of doors, stairs and windows opening out to the freezing snow gives the space varying dynamics, while the sound of the snow and the movement of the windows as the wind blows gives the audience a real sense of isolation.
Susan Penhaligon plays the miserable Mrs Boyle with complete conviction and has all the best lines, mostly regarding how hoovering isn’t appropriate after lunchtime. Emily Laing is also worth mentioning, playing newlywed Mollie Ralston with real sincerity and likeability. The whole cast, however, are wonderful and guide this traditional whodunnit with brilliant comedic timing and dramatic pauses.
There is something wonderfully old fashioned and comforting about the whole production. The costumes, music and set transport us straight back to the 1950s, creating a real sense of nostalgia. The pace gives you time to take in all the characters and, of course, try to work out who you can trust. The tension in the room is palpable as the audience watches and listens for every clue, whilst the clashes between the characters provide plenty of much needed comedy. It is this mix of suspense, humour and wistfulness that makes The Mousetrap so engaging to watch.
Although The Mousetrap is celebrating its 75th anniversary on tour, it never seems dated. Christie’s writing has aged like a fine wine, with hints of feminism and, of course, the same old message that history repeats itself. We see left and right wing policies clashing, young and old struggling to understand one another, and a social system that doesn’t always have the right support to help others.
For a play that has been keeping audiences guessing for generations, The Mousetrap still manages to feel fresh, funny and, most importantly, intriguing. When people think of a whodunnit, this is probably one of the first that comes to mind, and it’s easy to see why it has become such an iconic piece of theatre. The Mousetrap gives you just enough clues to make you think you’ve worked it out, before throwing another suspicion your way. It keeps you guessing, keeps you laughing and, ultimately, keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. And, as we are reminded at the end, what happens at Monkswell Manor…stays at Monkswell Manor!
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Sophie Eaton