New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham
Monday 6th - Saturday 11th October 2014
As the audience sat in darkness the atmosphere was tense, we heard a women's fear filled scream, the shock and confusion of many voices and then finally a news report over the wireless informing us that a women, Mrs Lyon, had been murdered. As the curtain rose we were met by a jaw dropping set, a grand living room of a country house, high ceilings lined with oak panels, armchairs covered in chintz fabric, beautiful stain glass windows that show the heavy snow falling outside, slowly piling up in the window pane. The lighting is warm and inviting, contrasting the chilly outdoor atmosphere, that got darker as the day went on. This is Monkswell Manor, now a guest house inherited by newlyweds Giles and Mollie Ralston, who await their first guests anxiously and one by one they arrive covered in snow that appeared to melt away. Christopher Wren (Stephen Yeo) an eccentric young man that quickly befriends Mrs Ralston, Mrs Boyle (Anne Kavanagh) an older lady that expects the finer things in life and nitpicks everything wrong with the establishment owned by amateurs, Major Metcalf (Christopher Gilling) an army retiree that we know little about, Miss Casewell (Charlotte Latham) an independent and often masculine women, who doesn't seem to take to any other guests, Mr Paravicini (Michael Fenner) a foreigner that enjoys to wind everyone up, making him a gentleman disliked by all and finally, Sgt. Trotter (Luke Jenkins) arrives searching for links to the murder of Mrs Lyon.
In true Christie style the story twists and turns, the audience find themselves becoming detectives, picking up on subtle gestures and analysing every conversation hoping to find a clue. Although by doing this, you will only be led down one path, to suddenly leap down another, this is helped by an excellent cast that draw you into their lives but holds you at arms length, forcing you to question your instincts.
After the much deserved applause the actors asked to keep the twist ending a secret to anyone outside of the theatre, to ensure the mystery stays alive, by doing this you become part of a community and part of the plays history, which is a heartwarming and unique experience.
The Diamond Anniversary tour of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap, the worlds longest running show of the modern era, is running at The Alexandra Birmingham until Saturday 11th October.
Review by Ellie Scandrett
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