★★★★ The Mousetrap: 75 years later
Originally opening in London’s West End in 1952, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap has arrived in Sheffield during its 75th Anniversary Tour.
Set in a remote country guest house, The Mousetrap finds Mrs and Mr Ralston opening up Monkswell Manor to welcome guests for the first time. With a murderer on the loose in London, a motley cast of characters isolates in a manor. With a winter storm cutting them off from the outside world, secrets and crime run amok.
The scene of an Agatha Christie murder mystery was set immediately with the falling snow seen through the window, the interior of a grand manor, and radio telling the news of the recent murder in London. The suspects were comically established with the radio repeating that the suspect was seen in a ‘dark overcoat', 'light scarf, 'velvet hat,’ as each character was introduced wearing those items.
From the arrival of the first guest, the flighty Christopher Wren, through to the unplanned and shady Mr Paravicini, each character brought their own secrets, eccentricities and comic relief. The show nicely balanced humour, mystery and ambience.
As the story unravelled, lighting and mood aiding immersion, audiences could not help but try to solve the mystery. I was mentally noting the inconsistencies of the characters, any amiss behaviour, lies catching them out, even predicted some elements of the reveal, yet did not discover the big twist. My partner did figure out whodunnit, and he was very pleased with himself!
It truly felt like being inside an Agatha Christie novel, except clearly written to be performed on stage rather than simply adapted. Despite a singular set of the guest house lobby, the mannerisms, speech and backstories firmly set the period as 1950s England, with references to the war, rations, and politics. And in true murder mystery style, no other setting was needed.
Though the first act was primarily world and character-building, it did not feel slow, and the second act was fast-paced, as everything came to light. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the show and trying to solve the mystery, and frankly wanted more. It was well-written, produced and acted, and I would recommend any fan of Agatha Christie to go see it.
Showing at the Lyceum until Saturday 7th November, make sure to grab your tickets now.
