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Agatha Christie thought The Mousetrap – which is on a very short run at The Liverpool Empire currently – might survive six months in the West End. That was in 1952 and it is still going strong at The St Martin’s Theatre. Now, here it is, on tour with the 60th Anniversary production.
What makes it so engaging is its simple complexity, with more Red Herrings been thrown about than Felix looking for Tuna socks in a cupboard. Yes, it is all very Darling, Darling and Golly Gosh, but that adds to everything that transpires and this superb cast add to the atmosphere here delightfully.
Louise Jameson is a delight as the curmudgeonly Mrs Boyle, whose starched skirts are beautifully matched by her demeanour and with a simple, graceful scowl, Jameson certainly packs a punch. As Mollie and Giles, the newlywed owners of Monkswell Manor – the scene of the crime – Anna Andresen and Nick Barclay are right out of everybody’s 1950s scrapbook of Life as it Was, whereas Gregory Cox as the mysterious Mr Paravinci is just pure fun, although in a “let’s take the Mickey out of the Eastern Europeans” kind of way. Still, this was written in 1952.
The true stand out of the evening, however, is the effervescent performance of Oliver Gully as the somewhat neurotic Christopher Wren. Goodness me, if anybody must sleep well after coming of stage it must be this actor; he just doesn’t stop and his levels of presentation are sky high throughout.
There is another reason why The Mousetrap has been on stage so long and that is the fact that the cast beseech its audience not to let on Whodunnit so that we feel honour bound not to reveal the secret. Don’t worry, I’m not about to let the side down, but it does make reviewing the show a tad difficult although it is safe to say that should you go down to The Empire today, you’ll be sure of a big surprise.
The Mousetrap
Liverpool Empire Theatre
April 20 – April 23
Author: Agatha Christie
Director: Ian Watt-Smith
Cast: Louise Jameson, Anna Andresen, Nick Barclay, Tony Boncza, Lewis Cillier, Gregory Cox, Amy Downham, Oliver Gully
PR Rating: **** Joyous Trappings