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.
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