The Mousetrap, Agatha’s Christie’s famous murder mystery, is far from just another run of the mill whodunnit story. As the longest running play of any kind in the history of theatre, it has become an integral part of London’s West End history and its status has long been protected with producers reluctant to send it on tour and adapt it for film and television.
However, with the play now approaching its 68th anniversary, The Mousetrap has launched a nationwide tour, playing at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow until Saturday.
Snowed in on a cold winter night, the newly married Giles Ralston (Nick Biadon) and Mollie Ralston (Harriet Hare) open up their grand manor as a guest house, full of excitement to welcome their first guests.
Arriving one by one is the camp and overly dramatic Christopher Wren (Lewis Chandler), the snooty and critical Mrs Boyle (Susan Penhaligon) , the politically minded Miss Caswell (Saskia Vaigncourt-Strallen) and former war veteran Major Metcalf (John Griffiths).
They are joined by a last minute guest the mysterious Italian Mr Paravicini (David Alcock). As the weird and wonderful hotel guests start to mingle, they are horrified to discover that a murderer is on the loose with all of them potential suspects.
As Sgt Trotter arrives through the blizzard to interrogate each one and solve a mystery, can he find the elusive killer before they strike again?
Unlike other modern productions of old classics, there is no revamping or modernising of the original play. True to status, the set design of the grandous manor has been preserved in its original form, a carbon copy of the set featured in its London West End home, St Martin’s Theatre.
There is great attention to detail to ensure the audience are transported back to the 1950s, with props, radio broadcasts, costume design and the flawless clipped accents of each of the performers.
The success of the long running play is the deft character development as the twists and turn of the plot unfolds. The first class performance and delivery from all of the players, each with their own secrets and story to tell, leaves the audience swept along with the mystery until the killer is dramatically revealed.
All of the characters were wonderful archetypes of a classic murder mystery. As more and more clues are cleverly revealed throughout, tension is subtly built until the climatic ending, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats, wondering who can they trust.
At the mysterious killer is dramatically revealed and the final curtain falls, the audience is sworn to secrecy – a tradition at every performance since 1952. This well kept secret shows the deep respect audience goers have for this particular piece of theatre.
A thrilling and entertaining play which will delight murder mystery fans and bring a new audience into the world of Agatha Christie.
The Mousetrap is at the Theatre Royal until 2nd November.