Agatha Christie’s THE MOUSETRAP is one of theatre’s greatest success stories.The show opened in London’s West End on 25 November 1952 at the Ambassadors Theatre, where it ran until 23 March 1974. It immediately transferred to the larger St Martin’s Theatre next door, where it continues to this day.
This mercurial show has commenced a national tour, starting with a season at the Theatre Royal Sydney.
After a local woman is murdered, the guests and staff at Monkswell Manor find themselves stranded during a snowstorm. It soon becomes clear that the killer is among them, and the seven strangers grow increasingly suspicious of one another. A police detective, arriving on skis, interrogates the suspects: the newlyweds running the house; a spinster with a curious background; an architect who seems better equipped to be a chef; a retired Army major; a strange little man who claims his car has overturned in a drift; and a jurist who makes life miserable for everyone. When a second murder takes place, tensions and fears escalate. The action continues until a surprise twist ending.
Robyn Nevin, an icon of Australian theatre, is the helmer. Nevin wins good performances from her cast who enjoy playing Christie’s very distinct character types.
In my favourite performance of the night Anna O’Byrne plays Mollie Ralston, the very respectable, genteel owner of Monkswell Manor, where the entire action takes place.
Alex Rathgeber plays Giles Ralston, Mollie’s husband of just one year. He is a temperamental, easily ruffled type.
Laurence Boxhall gives a lovely comic performance as the architect, well not really, Christopher Wren with a very curious hairstyle.
Another icon of Australian theatre Geraldine Turner is excellent as the snooty, unpleasant retired magistrate Mrs Boyle.
Adam Murphy plays the retired British military officer, Major Metcalf, military in manner and bearing.
Gerry Connolly gives a fine performance as the showy, flamboyant and very annoying Mr Paravicini
Tom Conroy was excellent as the very committed Detective Sergeant Trotter who is working tirelessly to track down the murderer before he or she strikes again.
Colin Friels and Judy Davis’s daughter Charlotte Friels plays the rather stiff Miss Casewell. She claims not to have lived in England for some years, since she was twelve to thirteen years of age, but she is mysterious about where she does live.
The main players in Nevin’s accomplished creative team are set designer Isabel Hudson, who has come up with an ornate, elegant set of the inside of Monkswell Manor, and the very reliable, veteran lighting designer, Trudy Dalgleish.]
Verdict. Nothing to get too excited about with this show. THE MOUSETRAP is very polished theatre.
THE MOUSETRAP will probably be around for another 70 years!
THE MOUSETRAP is playing the Theatre Royal Sydney until 30 October 2022. Performance times Wednesdays and Thursdays at 1pm and 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 7.30pm, Saturdays at 2pm and Sundays at 1pm.
Featured image : Alex Rathgeber, Laurence Boxhall, Anna O’Byrne, Tom Conroy & Adam Murphy in THE MOUSETRAP Pic Brian Geach
