The Mousetrap is undoubtedly one of the most famous productions in theatre history. Penned by the ‘queen of crime’ Agatha Christie it holds the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous run of any show in the world.
The stage production is celebrating its Diamond Anniversary with its first UK tour stopping at The Lowry, Salford till March 22nd.
The Mousetrap is a classic murder-mystery set in the type of sleepy village you know Miss Marple would have felt quite at home in…except in this play there’s no appearance made by the knitting sleuth from St. Mary Mead or Christie’s other stalwart Belgium detective, Poirot!
Director Ian Watt-Smith has done a great job with The Mousetrap balancing the right amount of tension, farcical humour and suspense to keep the audience engaged.
Instead we are presented with a plot which revolves around Mollie and Giles Ralston (Joanna Croll) and (Henry Luxemburg) – a young married couple who have just opened a grand guesthouse, Monkswell Manor, and are expecting their new ‘guests’ to arrive. Cue an array of larger than life characters ranging from an ex Colonel, an erratic young architect called Christopher Wren (I kid you not) and a flamboyant Italian traveller Mr. Paravicini.
Nothing too sinister about that I hear you cry?
That is until the police phone the Manor to say there’s been a murder in London and the killer is on his way to the address or could be there already.
It’s a thrilling piece of theatre and you can understand why it has been taken to the hearts of so many audiences. There’s twists and turns as secrets are revealed and despite the ending being a little predictable The Mousetrap can be forgiven for it’s impeccable delivery and old fashioned British charm.
There’s a strong cast of 8 with stand out performances from Jonathan Woolf as the inquisitive and determined Detective Sergeant Trotter and Joanna Croll as the well-meaning wife Mollie Ralston struggling to hold everything together.
Director Ian Watt-Smith has done a great job with The Mousetrap balancing the right amount of tension, farcical humour and suspense to keep the audience engaged.
I will say no more as I am sworn to secrecy not to give away the ending, and not one to be a kill-joy (excuse the pun) I shall remain faithful to the famous curtain speech that is delivered to the audience.
“Now you have seen The Mousetrap you are our partners in crime, and we ask you to preserve the tradition by keeping the secret of whodunit locked in your hearts.”
So if you fancy joining the group of people in on the ‘secret’ head to the scene of the crime (otherwise known as The Lowry Theatre) before The Mousetrap takes its mystery elsewhere.
The Mousetrap
Mon 17 – Sat 22 March
www.thelowry.com
