Judith Conyers enjoys a comfortable evening of theatre with Agatha Christie's classic whodunit.
Re-visiting Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’ after many years is a bit like watching an episode of ‘Inspector Morse’ on a wet afternoon. Comfortable, you know what to expect, you have seen it before but still can’t fully remember who did it - or is that just me? Anyway it’s 25 years since I’ve seen the West End production and it was a treat to pop down to Guildford to watch this old pleasure now also touring to celebrate over 60 years in production.
The snow falls heavily on the oak panelled Monkswell Manor. Novice hosts Mollie and Giles Ralston welcome an elective mix of guests and as they are gradually cut off by snow we start to learn a little more about each of them….is there a murderer amongst their midst?
The company play homage to the reassuringly familiar form, heightening their characters and enjoying their humour whilst still maintaining the suspense. Sarah Whitlock’s Mrs Boyle is a perfectly portrayed dragon of old whilst Amy Downham’s Miss Casewell is a newer breed of woman with secrets in her heart. Oliver Gully certainly does not let subtlety inhibit his bravado performance as Christopher Wren (not that one).
Lewis Collier as Sgt Trotter
The Yvonne Arnaud is just coming to the end of it’s 50th year celebrations and I am reminded how perfect it is to enjoy the intimacy of this murder mystery. With approximately 600 seats it’s just about the right size to feel involved in the play whilst still enjoying a shared experience. Worth noting that it is one of those rare theatres where there is not a poor sightline in the house.
In the current climate it may be fashionable to offer a post Brexit explanation of why ‘The Mousetrap’ is still popular. Re-assuringly English? Old fashioned? Quaint? Just a little bit scary? Remembrance of days gone by? In fact, Agatha Christie when asked about its popularity, summed it up most tellingly:
“It’s the sort of play you can take anyone to. It’s not really frightening. It’s not really horrible. It’s not really a farce, but it has a little bit of all these things and perhaps that satisfies a lot of people”
Still well worth the visit after 60 years!
The Mousetrap is at the Yvonne Arnaud October 24-29, for tickets visit vonne-arnaud.co.uk
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