There are few productions that carry the amount of theatrical baggage as The Mousetrap. The legendary production, into it’s 75th year, is touring the UK for the third time, ready to prove that, even now, it still can keep its audiences guessing.
The success of the evening depends on which of two camps audiences fall in – those who relish the nostalgia of a good old-fashioned murder mystery or those who find the 1950s pacing and plot a bit too traditional and, dare one say, predictable.
The Mousetrap is set in a remote guesthouse, Monkswell Manor, recently taken on by a young, married couple Mollie and Giles Ralston (Emily Laing and Jack Hardwick). A mix of guests battle the blizzard outside to stay at the manor, from the prissy Mrs Boyle (Susan Penhaligon) to the excitable Christopher Wren (Thomas Barrett) and the usual clashes of personalities percolate through the house.
When a murder occurs, it’s up to Detective Seargent Trotter (Alfie Richards) to unpick a web of mystery and misdirection before the killer can strike again.
Tour Director Hannah Chissick has pulled the ensemble together effectively and lets the idiosyncrasies of each character flow well into the story. Emily Laing is extremely likeable as Mollie and Susan Penhaligon has a lot of fun in Mrs Boyle’s inexhaustible capacity to find fault. James Peake is similarly entertaining in his turn as the colourful (and unexpected) Italian guest Mr Paravicini.
Thomas Barrett adds a sweet touch of naivety as Wren (yes, named after the architect) without becoming too cloying. Nicholas Bailey is solid and reliable as Major Metcalf (although his stiff upper lip accent sometime wavers into pastiche), and Clare Duffy is charming and enigmatic as the inscrutable Miss Casewell.
Jack Hardwick, as Giles, provides a lot of amusement as his annoyance at Wren bubbles over, and Alfie Richards delivers the typical working-class policeman that is the hallmark of many a Christie tale.
Occasionally the acting leans a bit too heavily into the theatrical and feel a bit campy. But there can be real charm in what is certainly a visual treat with a sumptuous set and atmospheric lighting that highly suits the period setting.
It’s up to the audience to decide if they find this classic approach like a warm hug of nostalgia or just too pedestrian for modern standards and, leaning towards the thought that The Mousetrap isn’t Christie at her finest, one suspects that a lot of the show’s later success trades on the goodwill surrounding its longevity.
Ultimately though the twists and turns – including the final reveal which does genuinely surprise – will ensure that, as the cast remind the audience at the curtain call not to spoil the story, The Mousetrap will maintain enduring appeal even if it isn’t the sharpest of mysteries to grace the stage.
The Mousetrap plays at the Floral Pavillion until Saturday 24th October, before continuing on its UK tour. For tickets visit http://www.floralpavilion.com/event/the-mousetrap/#bookings.
Reviewer: Lou Steggals
Reviewed: 19th October 2026
North West End UK Rating: