THE MOUSETRAP (Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen & Adam Spiegel)
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| Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap Tour |
After a record-breaking run in the West End, The Mousetrap
is celebrating its monumental 60 years on stage by undertaking it’s first ever
tour of the UK. Penned by the mistress of murder mystery, Agatha Christie, the
show is playing to packed theatres all over the country. An opening night sell
out is a phenomenon usually reserved for Andrew Lloyd Webber shows and Blood
Brothers but the full house at Malvern Festival Theatre is a reflection of the
popularity and intrigue of this timeless classic.
Ian Watt-Smith perfectly directs a brilliant cast of eight
characters who, due to extreme winter weather, find themselves cut off in the
isolated Monkswell Manor, while reports of the murder of a woman in London
circulate the country. The hunt for her killer leads to the country house and
the discovery that the killing spree may not be over, but whodunit?
Bruno Langley and Jemma Walker charmingly play the inheritors
of the manor, who naively decide to open it as a guesthouse. Steven France is superb
as their first arrival, in the guise of Christopher Wren, whose childish
enthusiasm quickly irritates most in his company, particularly the pernickety Mrs
Boyle, superbly characterised by Jan Waters. Graham Seed is wonderfully aloof
as Major Metcalf and Clare Wilkie is excellent as the strikingly self-assured
Miss Casewell. Karl Howman and Thomas Howes revel in their respective roles of Mr
Paravicini and Detective Sergeant Trotter, the unexpected guests that make up
the fated eight.
A beautifully functional set, delightful period costume,
atmospheric lighting and sound complete the sparkle on this diamond anniversary
production. What makes this different to the other Agatha Christie plays is the
quality of script, story and characters. The first act moves the story along at
a pace, leaving a trail of clues that tempt us to unravel the mystery of each
individual as we play detective to uncover the deadly scheme and unmask the
murderer before all is revealed on stage.
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