The Mousetrap – REVIEW

Written by Agatha Christie, this murder mystery has been playing continuously in London’s West End since 1952, performances only temporarily halted during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Now theatre goers in Sydney have the opportunity to experience The Mousetrap and, in the process, discover for themselves why this stage play has been enthralling audiences for 70 years.

The story unfolds in Monkswell Manor outside London during a blizzard, a recently converted guesthouse owned by Mollie and Giles Ralston. It’s their first day of business and prior to five guests arriving on a wintry evening it’s reported on the radio that a woman has been strangled in the area and police are searching for the suspect.

A detective arrives to question the guests and soon after, one of the guests is murdered. There is a killer in the house but who is the culprit? Is it one of the five guests or possibly Mollie or Giles Ralston? Is there a connection between this murder and that reported on the radio?

From the moment the curtain rises audiences are transported to another time and place, quietly sitting back and inadvertently transforming into amateur sleuths, attempting to solve the murder puzzle prior to all being revealed in the final moments during an eruption of emotions.

All is not as it seems and just as audiences believe the crime has been solved there’s a major twist that should shatter the most confident of wannabe sleuths and their beliefs that they knew all along who the killer was!

This is not frightening or disturbing theatre. Quite the contrary it’s surprisingly humorous, bordering on farcical with the welcomed absurdity and nonsense cleverly intertwined throughout.

All the action takes place in the living area of the guesthouse, the set design and selection of props from a bygone era adding credence and atmosphere to the overall production.

Astutely directed by Robyn Nevin, the cast of eight extremely talented performers which includes Geraldine Turner has truly excelled in bringing these very unique characters to life on stage, alluring unsuspecting audiences away from their ordinary lives into this imaginary world of deceit, secrets, murder and paranoia.

With major musical productions hoarding all the major theatres in recent times, The Mousetrap is a ‘breath of fresh air’, an enjoyable whodunnit that should enchant and leave audiences guessing right up until the last moment.

Experience this record breaking theatrical production that has been playing in West End for 70 years. Readers may be asking;  why does a whodunnit stage play sell out nightly and have audiences constantly returning for encore performances? Come along and attempt to solve the murder mystery of The Mousetrap and you’ll understand why!

               Until October 30.

               Theatre Royal, 108 King St, Sydney

               www.themousetrap.com.au