
A classic whodunit from the pen of that legendary crime writer Agatha Christie. This murder mystery is the longest running play in the UK and, in fact the world but has yet to appear as a film. Christie herself stipulated that this thriller must not be made into a film and that still holds true today.
This stage production is a totally absorbing affair and in the very best Christie tradition, has a sting in the tail! It is superbly acted and under the expert direction of David Turner is considered a masterpiece in its own right.
Why is it called ‘The Mousetrap’? This is aptly named as the plot is centred upon a group of people who have been ’ensnared’ as a result of heavy snow. A policeman arrives at the hotel and warns the guests that a killer is on the loose. Later on, one of the hotel guests is murdered and everyone suddenly realises that the murderer is likely to be one of them!
From then on, the plot twists and turns as each of the guests tries to guess who the murderer is. Only at the end do we find out who the real killer is. What sets this play apart is that the audience are asked at the end of each production not to reveal the identity of the murderer to anyone outside of the theatre.
The play starts with a converted hotel, formerly known as Monkswell Manor, which is in a rural location. This is a relatively new hotel run by a young couple – Giles and Mollie Ralston. Due to a heavy snowfall, they and the guests are trapped in the hotel until it clears. They are joined by a passer-by who has been forced to take shelter in the hotel as his car is stuck in the snow.
They learn from the police that a dangerous killer is on the loose and so they must take care. Later on, one of the guests is found murdered which brings it home to everyone that the killer could be inside the hotel, in fact, he/she could be one of them!
You will be taken on a tense, gripping and nail biting journey of trying to discover which one of the guests is the murderer. Each one of the guests starts to form their own opinion as to who it is which is also very revealing!
In the very best tradition of this play the killer’s identity can only be revealed to those present at the theatre on the night of the production. So if you want to know the secrets of The Mousetrap, then you will have to pick up tickets and see the show for yourself!