Ad disclosure: We were provided with press tickets for the purpose of this post.
(5 stars)
Yesterday James and I attended the press night at the Alexandra Theatre for Agatha Christie’s record-breaking play, The Mousetrap, which is currently touring the UK to celebrate its 75th Anniversary. First performed in a number of theatres in the UK (including the Alexandra) before opening in the West End in 1952, The Mousetrap has gone on to become the world’s longest-running stage play, with its West End run continuing for 75 years.
I’ve always been a fan of Agatha Christie’s novels and have enjoyed a number of the film, TV and even stage adaptations, but this is the first time I’ve seen her most successful play – which was written for the stage rather than starting life as a novel. It’s not hard to see why it has been such a beloved success for so many years, as we thoroughly enjoyed it last night!
Set in a newly opened guest house not too long after the end of the war (with a mention of ration books still being in use), The Mousetrap is a classic ‘cosy crime’ style mystery – with a number of characters trapped inside together thanks to a snowstorm. There has been a murder in nearby London that may be linked to the house – or the owners and guests themselves – and so everyone becomes a potential killer… or a potential victim.
There are a good number of genuinely amusing moments, some excellent twists and turns to the story, and a cast of quirky characters. The audience was really invested in the happenings on stage, and I wasn’t the only person trying to figure out the characters’ secrets in the interval and making guesses as to who could be involved – and how. It’s a clever story and I can admit that I was largely baffled by the mystery, but did have an inkling or two that ended up being true.
As traditionally requested by the cast at the end of the play, I will not be revealing any of the secrets – but I will say that the traditional ‘exciting last chapter’, where everyone gathers together for the explanation of the mystery, is somewhat turned upside down. Well, that and the fact that James and I both left the theatre with the haunting tune of Three Blind Mice stuck in our heads!
The cast of eight were all excellent and did a fantastic job throughout, without overdoing it and turning the characters into too much of a caricature. Emily Laing was especially impressive as the stressed Mollie Ralston, trying her best to move on from a mysterious and clearly traumatic past with her newlywed husband Giles.
I loved Thomas Barrett’s performance as the disturbed and vulnerable Christopher Wren – his body language and expression were absolutely marvellous. Susan Penhaligon made a wonderful crotchety old lady in the role of Mrs Boyle – always complaining and driving the other characters up the wall!
The whole play takes place in a single fixed and detailed set – the front hall of Monkswell House, which had an impressive number of entrances and exits through which the characters would appear and disappear. I really enjoyed the clever use of the space and the way you could hear strains of music or noises from ‘other parts of the house’ at times throughout as the story unfolded on stage. Likewise, the costumes suited the period and setting perfectly, right down to the hairstyles and accessories.
Although The Mousetrap has been entertaining audiences for 75 years, it doesn’t feel like a dusty old play that has simply been kept going because of its place in theatre history. The mystery is genuinely engaging, there’s plenty of humour alongside the suspense, and we both found ourselves completely caught up in trying to work out what was going on. I think Lydia in particular – at 13 and into both drama and murder mysteries – would love to see it, and James was already talking about the possibility of taking the girls to see the London production at some point. For a play that has been around for 75 years, The Mousetrap still manages to be a thoroughly entertaining night at the theatre, and we both really enjoyed it.
It’s definitely a ★★★★★ rating from both of us – The Mousetrap is known as a classic for a reason, and its accolades are well deserved.
The Mousetrap is on at The Alexandra, Birmingham, until Saturday 12th September, before continuing around the UK and Ireland on the Anniversary Tour throughout 2026 and 2027. The running time is a little over two hours, including a 20-minute interval, and the recommended age is 7+.
