REVIEW

The Mousetrap

Wyvern Theatre, until Saturday

The longest running show in theatre history, The Mousetrap, has returned to the Wyvern Theatre, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats, trying to guess whodunnit.

This record-breaking production of Agatha Christie’s murder mystery classic - which has more than 25,000 performances under its belt - pulled the full house in from the start as we met the individual characters who had come to stay Monkswell Manor guest house and began to suspect everyone of being the murderer.

Married couple Mollie and Giles Ralston, who run the guest house, are preparing for visitors despite the heavy snow storm outside. First to arrive is the hyperactive Christopher Wren, whose energy is exhausting. Peculiar but also endearing, he claims to have been named after the architect by his parents. This part, played by Oliver Gully, was a firm favourite with me and my friends. He was hilarious and captivating and generated a lot of laughs from the audience.

Fellow guest Mrs Boyle, miserable from the outset, is the type of person who criticises everyone and everything. She is played by the talented Sarah Whitlock, who has appeared in TV roles in Bergerac and The Bill.

The other characters in the play include Major Metcalf, Miss Casewell, Mr Paravicini and Detective Sergeant Trotter - all outstanding performers.

The set deserves some credit too - the attention to detail is impressive. I really felt like I was watching a guest house and the use of space, with doors and stairways, gave a great impression of how large Monkswell Manor is meant to be.

If you are looking for spoilers in this review, you will be disappointed. The play is known for its twist at the end, but I am part of the secret now.

That said, there’s plenty of time to find out how things end as the play runs at the Wyvern until Saturday.

By KELLY JOBANPUTRA