Review | AGATHA CHRISTIE'S THE MOUSETRAP (UK Tour) October 2014

Now into it's 62nd year in the West End, The Mousetrap continues it's 60th Anniversary tour that began in 2012. The incredibly popular play opened in 1952 and has been running continuously ever since for over 25,000 performances and is the longest running production of the modern era. 

The beautiful set is the wood-panelled sitting room of Monkswell Manor of which is almost identical to the London production. The manor house, left by an aunt, opens as a guest house ran by Giles and Mollie Ralston (Henry Luxemburg and Helen Clapp). A murder is announced on the radio and as with all Christie plays, one by one the guests are revealed as potential culprits.

With each of the suspects, is every type of character in The Mousetrap, partly what manages to keep audience interest in what could be an awfully static piece. The play is also wonderfully structured, the stage time of each character is perfectly waited and the first to enter is the energetic and schizophrenic architect Christopher Wren, not the one responsible for St Paul's Cathedral... Stephen Yeo is responsible for bringing most of the humour to the production as Wren, which is always necessary in a play like this,  there's a lot of explanation going on. Henry Luxemburg is full of frustration as the husband to Helen Clapp's excellent Mollie. Clapp is increasingly fraught as the mystery progresses, working through red herrings and plot twists to produce a character most eating of your sympathy. Luke Jenkins delivers as Detective Sergeant Trotter and clearly enjoys this particularly interesting character.  Anne Kavanagh is at fight sight a kindly old lady but quickly asserts her battle-axe Mrs Boyle whilst keeping a friendly smile - a perfect, textbook Christie character. The charming Michael Fenner is a humorous addition as Mr Paravicini.

The Mousetrap is hardly gruesome but what is most captivating about this murder mystery is a clever resolution, with no clear path until the final seconds, it keeps you guessing until the end. By tradition, audiences are told at the final curtain that they have become partners in crime and must continue to preserve the secret of whodunit just like the thousands in the 62 years previous. If you want to know, you'll just have to go. Solve the mystery at Birmingham's New Alexandra Theatre until Saturday 11 October. Book here.

View the trailer:

Cast List: Helen Clapp, Michael Fenner, Christopher Gilling, Luke Jenkins, Anne Kavanagh, Charlotte Latham, Henry Luxemburg, Stephen Yeo, Tessa Gallagher, John Gould, Jack Lewis, Maria McColgan

AGATHA CHRISTIE'S THE MOUSETRAP (UK Tour) Review May 2013

I was in London at the weekend and not for the first time I found myself walking past the St Martin's Theatre - but that's all I've ever done... walked past it. Above the entrance there's a giant neon sign with "60th Year" flashing away. Opening in 1952 and running continuously for over 25,000 performances it is the longest running production of the modern era. 

St Martin's Theatre, May 2013

For over 60 years the mystery of who killed Maureen Lyon was a West End secret but now The Mousetrap has embarked on it's first ever UK tour in celebration of it's Diamond Anniversary. 

The Wolverhampton Grand Theatre is always a suitable host for drama, but none seemed more fitting on it's stage than this. The beautiful set is the wood-panelled sitting room of Monkswell Manor which I'm told is almost identical to the London production. The manor house, left by an aunt, opens as a guest house ran by Giles and Mollie Ralston (Bruno Langley and Jemma Walker). A murder is announced on the radio and as with all Christie plays, one by one the guests are revealed as potential culprits. 

There is every type of character in The Mousetrap, partly what keeps audience interest. The play is wonderfully structured and first to enter is  the camp, energetic and slightly sinister schizophrenic architect Christopher Wren (Steven France). France is responsible for bringing most of the humour which is always necessary in a play that has a lot of explanation going on. Bruno Langley (Todd from Coronation Street) is charming in the role of Giles and Eastenders' Jemma Walker is evermore captivating as Mollie as the mystery progresses. Bob Saul as Detective Sergeant Trotter and Elizabeth Power as the battle-axe Mrs Boyle give other amusing and stand-out performances. 

What The Mousetrap isn't is the most dark and gruesome story. What it is, is rather a lighthearted and amusing attempt at discovering a killer with a twist ending that falls neatly into place. Traditionally audiences are told at the end that they become partners in crime and to keep the secret to themselves. If you want to know, you'll just have to go. Thoroughly enjoyable and completely worth a visit whilst it's at your local theatre - London prices are perhaps a little too costly and regional prices are a much better deal. 

The Mousetrap runs at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Saturday 1st June before continuing on a tour of the UK long into 2014. Book tickets for Wolverhampton here.