Director Philip Franks wonderfully maintains the suspense of what is the longest running play in the world, which now in its 73rd year, having first opened in London’s West End in 1952, continues to play to packed houses which is a testament to Agatha Christie’s suspenseful writing and the accompanying performances from the cast with the support of an accomplished creative team.
Set in early 1950’s England, Mollie Ralston (Lara Lemon) and Giles Ralston (Harry Bradley) have been married for one year and having decided to repurpose her inherited stately home, Monkswell Manor, as a guest house, they nervously await their first guests amidst a snowy blizzard that has just descended. First to arrive is the excitable Christoper Wren (Richard Leeming), an architect no less who loves to cook, followed by the less polite and more severe Mrs Boyle (Rekha John-Cheriyan) intent on finding fault, and accompanied by retired Major Metcalf (Owen Oakeshott), with whom she has had to share a taxi, who himself is keen on creating order. Last to arrive is the debonair Miss Casewell (Grace Darling) who is somewhat of a conundrum, before an unexpected knock at the door signals the arrival. But just as everyone appears settled there is an unexpected knock at the door which announces the appearance of the intriguing Mr Paravicini (Alasdair Buchan) who has had to abandon his car and is seeking refuge form the inclement weather.
But all is not as it seems: just as everyone appears settled for their first night, the telephone rings to advise that a murder has been committed earlier in the day in London and with everyone under suspicion, Detective Sgt Trotter (Daniel Radford) is on his way to provide protection and perhaps solve the case. But when the lights flicker, the phone line goes dead, and a haunting rendition of a nursery rhyme plays out, we know we are in for a long night and the question on everyone’s mind is, who will survive until the morning…
Whodunnit? Well in the fine tradition of this play, the murderer steps forward at the conclusion of each performance to ask the audience to keep the secret, and which somewhat remarkably they continue to do so, and with this production being the 29,865th (as stamped for free in my programme), my lips are sealed.
This production uses the second and re-designed setting for the play, designed by Anthony Holland and first used in 1965, and which delightfully reflects the ambience of the Great Hall where all the action unfolds across two days, with costumes reflecting not only the period but also embodying the nature of each character at a glance.
All the cast performed well with each drawing out the necessary quirk and foible of their character that, accompanied by Christie’s engaging narrative, built the tension from the off, maintained the necessary suspense throughout, and kept everyone guessing as secrets are revealed and plot twists and turns unravel at a fast pace where every piece of information counts in this timeless classic.
St. Martins Theatre is in the heart of London’s West End with a capacity of 552 over three auditorium levels, it has staged the Mousetrap, the longest continuous running show in the world, since March 1974. Further information and booking details https://www.stmartinstheatre.co.uk/
Reviewer: Mark Davoren
Reviewed: 4th December 2024
North West End UK Rating:
Rating: 4 out of 5.
