The Mousetrap

Captured, as if in aspic for all time, this extraordinary piece of theatre, 60 years old and still packing them in, still has what it takes when it comes to a damned good whodunnit. Having never seen it, I was totally taken along on the ride, despite some obvious weaknesses. The set is good, the direction excellent and the cast certainly do it justice, well almost. I can’t help thinking that some members of the company simply look far too young for the roles that they play.

The real star of the show is the play itself and there is no doubting that Agatha Christie was the queen of crime. The plot twists and turns with the deftest of hands, her skill at keeping an audience enthralled is as good today as it was when it was first seen all those years ago, and apart from the nostalgia quota, surely this is why the thing has run and run.

I did however dislike the weird disembodied nature of the sound system. With the cast using head mics noises off stage right came out of speakers stage left – not good. That said, it’s a fun night of theatre that in every sense defies time and change.

Theatre Royal Brighton, 15 April 2013

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