THE MOUSETRAP

It’s no longer just a play, it’s a piece of theatre history and with that history comes a weighty responsibility, one given not only to the reviewer but to every audience member. I’m sure that a bit of forensic online research might reveal who dunnit but having seen this classic Agatha Christie I am prepared to play the game. In fact I make a point of not revealing plots or outcomes in my reviews, and this one is never easy to do, especially having seen the play four times over the years.

I’m a Christie fan and I love seeing the plays performed in period style, classic sets, great costumes, the clipped tones of received English, it all makes for a great night’s entertainment, and her plots are so well crafted that ones attention is held from start to finish.

Of course all this depends on a great cast and a director that knows what they are doing, don’t mess with Christies, stay true.

This 70th anniversary production does just that, with a first class set, costumes and company. It’s pure Christie, an unadulterated murder mystery with lots of twists and more than just a dash of humour too. That’s not to say that the production is parodying the form, far from it, it is delivered with the right amount of serious intent and just lightly dusted with humour, much of which comes from the pen of Agatha.

There are some very good performances here but to start to analyse them in review style would no doubt give far too much away. So here are just a few comments that I hope will not spoil the whole. I craved for a decent period styled wig for one of the female leads, a little less energy from one male character and a better foreign accent from another. Am I saying too much? I hope not.

If you’ve never seen it then do, it does not fail to entertain. Christie remains the queen of crime and this is a jewel in her crow, a production that does her justice.

Andrew Kay

Theatre Royal Brighton

25/10/22

Rating: