The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie. St Martin's Theatre, West Street, London until 25 September 2025,

1☆. Review: William Russell.

“Tourist trap more than mouse one.”

I was around when The Mousetrap opened although I did not get the chance to review it then and Iwas not particularly attracted by the bums on seats stars – Richard Attenborough and Sheila Sim, his wife both British film stars moonlighting which was quite common then – to buy a ticket. The years passed, impresario Peter Saunders nursed I magnificently and it turned in to an an instituion, one of those must see institutions like the Tower of London or Eros. And, of cours, the cast kept changing.

Many great names have appeared in thrillers, very often by Christie, some of which were very good of their kind, so confronted with a theatre voucher I decided to spend it on The Mousetrap.

It may be the world's longest running play – it opened in 1972 – but that does not mean it is a good one which has stood the passage of time. It is mid winter, snow is falling thick and fast outside. Mollie and Gyles, the new owners of a country mansion they have turned into a B&B, are awaiting their first guests and on the radio there is a report of a lunatic on the run who has murdered someone. In due course the guests arrive – stock Christie characters all, the comic foreigner, gay guy, nasty spinster and some sort of military man – sporting the worst ever fake snowflakes to prove they have come in from the storm. Last to appear carrying his skis – as the police do in the home counties in winter - is one Sergeant Trotter. The performances are terrible. Everyone approaches their role top at speed and proceeds to go over it with abandon. Whatever they are up to it is not acting. As to who did it, well if you don't know that already – the secret was given away decades ago – you should be able to work it out the moment the murderer appears. At the end the Sergeant asks the audience not to disclose who it was. I will respect that but I had worked it out anyway back in 1972 just by seeing who played which role.

The only advice one can give – it is booking up to September 2025 and may well make its century given it has made it this far – is avoid the trap.

Cast

Lucy Doyle – Mollie Ralston.

Daniel Cech-Lucas - Giles Ralston.

Lynton Appleton – Christopher Wren.

Jules Melvin – Mrs Boyle.

Ben Onwukwe – Major Metcalf.

Elyssia Roe – Miss Casewell.

Laurenzo Martelli – Mr Paravicini.

Sam Staffird – Detective Sergeant Totter.

Creatives

Director – Philip Franks.

Movement Director – Sophia Vi.

Costume Supervisor – Janet Hudson Holt.