Corker version of an enduring favourite
THE longest-running thriller of them all – Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap – celebrates its 70th anniversary with a corker of a new production that visits Bath on its tour of more than 70 UK theatres.
It stars some of the nation’s favourite stage and screen actors – Todd Carty (EastEnders’ Mark Fowler, Grange Hill’s Tucker), Gwyneth Strong (Cassandra Trotter in Only Fools and Horses) and John Altman (EastEnders’ Nick Cotton).
They give pitch-perfect performances that highlight the fun to be found in this much-loved, if dated, genre of the country house murder.
Along with the merriment there is no lessening of the dramatic tension in the many twists and turns of the plot.
Young couple Mollie and Giles Ralston have opened up their remote manor house to guests for the first time – and what an eccentric bunch their visitors turn out to be.
There’s young prankster Christopher Wren, sour-faced old biddy Mrs Boyle, the gruff Major Metcalf, modern young gal Miss Casewell and suspicious foreigner Mr Paravicini.
As the guests arrive news spreads of a gruesome murder in London, but this is of little concern to those in the remote Monkswell Manor.
Or is it?
All the guests have to worry about is a lack of heating in the manor as a snowstorm isolates them all – that is until a police sergeant blows in – hilariously – on skis.
Detective Sgt Trotter (vigorously played by Joseph Reed) lets it be known that not only is there a killer in their midst, but also a victim. Suspicion falls on first one, and then another of the guests as they gradually reveal their less-than-perfect pasts.
Directed by Ian Talbot and Denise Silvey, the action zips along with strong support from the whole cast that includes Joelle Dyson and Laurence Pears as the Ralstons, the hoteliers who find themselves at the centre of the mystery.
There is also an excellent comic performance from understudy Jack Elliot who stepped up on Monday’s opening night to play Christopher Wren. What a star he was!
You may or may not guess who the murderer is, but the perpetrator’s identity has been a closely-guarded secret for 70 years. In keeping with this tradition, at the end of the show the audience was once again asked not to reveal who dunnit.
Instead, a packed house of all ages responded with loud well-deserved applause for this entertaining new production of an enduring favourite.
■ The Mousetrap appears at the Theatre Royal Bath until Saturday, November 26. For tickets call the box office on 01225 448844 or go online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk