It’s more than 60 years since The Mousetrap, Agatha Christie’s theatrical marvel, had its world premiere in Nottingham.
In 1952 that performance was to prove the play’s worth for a move to the West End in what Agatha Christie herself predicted would be a nice little run ‘of about eight months’. It went on – of course – to become the longest running, most iconic play in history.
This week The Mousetrap is back in Nottingham with a 60-year legend to live up to and, for lovers of good period whodunnits, it’s not likely to disappoint!
At least one mystery is solved in the opening scene – just where do all those Eastenders “exit” taxis go? A clutch of former Albert Square regulars are at the heart of the cast brought together in this Diamond Anniversary tour – the first ever – of the crime-writing icon’s most famous stage story.
It was an inspired tactic that could well entice a generation weaned on HD gore and terror into a murder hunt as comfy and cosy as a cup of tea in St Mary Mead.
But preconceptions are soon out of the frequently opened ornate window of a sumptuously evocative set as we’re transported back in time to the oak-panelled great hall of Monkswell Manor just the wireless broadcasts news of a murder.
We meet the cast in quick succession and the plot picks up at a good pace with a steady flow of light-hearted laughs that prevent us from ever feeling there’s real murky danger waiting in the wings.
The performances are, by and large, very good with Jemma Walker as the fledgling still-in-the-throes of marital bliss landlady particularly fluent and convincing. I loved Karl Howman’s heavily-accented caricature of the mysterious piano playing (‘with one fingerrrr’) Mr Paravicini, whose arrival via an overturned car on the snowbound drive might or might not be genuine; and the foppish Christopher Wren, played at full pelt by the engaging and entertaining Steven France.
It was all great fun and like thousands of audiences before, we were sworn not to reveal the sting in the tail that’s been another well-kept secret of the play’s long-lasting success.
So I won’t reveal whodunit but I will share just one clue – they’ve “done it” rather well!
* The Mousetrap runs at The Theatre Royal until Sunday 18 May
Review by Sheila Ashton
