AGATHA Christie is certainly the Queen of Crime and her stories are a regular feature on the touring circuit, but The Mousetrap is undoubtedly the most famous stage play, with its record-breaking run, having been in the West End since 1952, now with its 70th anniversary tour.
Set in an old country house we meet Mollie and Giles Ralston, played by Hollie Sullivan and Barnaby Jago, as they are about to open their home for the first time as Monkswell Manor Guest House and nervously await their first arrivals. There follows an ecliptic mix of guests who would never be together in any other circumstance. Once the guests have arrived, they are cut off from civilisation by snow. We hear about an initial murder in London on the wireless, where obvious clues are dropped in, instantly drawing me into the story. Detective Sgt Trotter, played by Michael Ayiotis, arrives on skis to explain that everyone is in danger, which is soon followed by a murder in the guest house, so it isn’t long before everyone appears to have something to hide and could either be the murderer or the next victim.
The outstanding cast gave brilliant performances with the hilariously charming Shaun McCourt as Christopher Wren and Judith Rae as Mrs Boyle, the annoying guest, who complains about everything. Steven Elliott as Mr Paravicini, who turns up unannounced, putting everyone on edge, Amy Spinks as Miss Casewell, who gives the impression there is much more to her than we see and Todd Carty as Major Metcalf, who quietly observes and becomes more and more suspicious as the events are revealed.
The set is exactly as you’d expect from a Christie production, with perfectly subtle lighting.
Of course, after seeing a production of The Mousetrap you are bound by the code of keeping it all a secret in your heart, there is only one way to join this elite club and that is to make sure you catch The Mousetrap.
The Mousetrap runs until Saturday 27th July at Darlington Hippodrome.
