REVIEW
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
THE MOUSETRAP
Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
3rd-8th June 2019
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
THE MOUSETRAP
Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
3rd-8th June 2019
Agatha Christie's classic crime play, The Mousetrap, was brought to the stage in 1952 for the first time and has enjoyed a record breaking run in the West End ever since. It began its run at Southend's Palace Theatre this week and plays until Saturday 8th June.
This is an extremely engaging piece of theatre with a talented cast and an intriguing plot. The play's first act is full of light-hearted humour and you could be forgiven for forgetting that it is a murder mystery.
A young couple have opened a guesthouse in a remote region of England and there is something reminiscent of Basil and Sybil Fawlty about them. Giles Ralston (Nick Biadon) is fastidious and polite, yet he mutters abusive comments under his breath at the guests. Mollie Ralston (Hollie Hare) is the very epitome of respectability and is more likely to find fault with her husband rather than the guests. There is even a character called 'The Major', (John Griffiths) as well an extremely fussy and caustic guest named Mrs Boyle, (Gywneth Strong of Only Fools and Horses fame) who is reminiscent of more than one Fawlty Towers character.
Of course the play is a murder mystery so it is not all good humoured banter. The audience learns that a murder has taken place. A woman named Maureen Lyon has been killed. She was a neglectful foster mother who caused the death of a child in her care and someone is out for revenge. Act 1 ends with a murder and Act 2 is a case of 'Who done it?'
This section of the play is most engrossing as the audience and a Detective Trotter tries to get to the bottom of the case. Each of the characters has something suspicious about them, so everyone is a suspect.
Christopher Wren (Lewis Chandler) is a camp funny man, a cross between Stewie Griffin and Julian Clary, but is there more to him than meets the eye? A mysterious woman, Miss Caswell, (Saskia Vaigncourt Strallen) has returned to England for unknown reasons. What is she hiding? A strange foreigner with a twisted sense of humour: Mr Paravacini (David Alcock), is what the locals would call 'a wrong un'.
The audience is invited to figure out who the killer is before his identity is revealed. The amateur detective in all of us is challenged in this fine, well-acted, well directed production.
In today's era of CGI blockbusters, sometimes a good old fashioned murder mystery is just what the doctor ordered - as long as he is not out to kill you, of course!
Review: James Harrington
This is an extremely engaging piece of theatre with a talented cast and an intriguing plot. The play's first act is full of light-hearted humour and you could be forgiven for forgetting that it is a murder mystery.
A young couple have opened a guesthouse in a remote region of England and there is something reminiscent of Basil and Sybil Fawlty about them. Giles Ralston (Nick Biadon) is fastidious and polite, yet he mutters abusive comments under his breath at the guests. Mollie Ralston (Hollie Hare) is the very epitome of respectability and is more likely to find fault with her husband rather than the guests. There is even a character called 'The Major', (John Griffiths) as well an extremely fussy and caustic guest named Mrs Boyle, (Gywneth Strong of Only Fools and Horses fame) who is reminiscent of more than one Fawlty Towers character.
Of course the play is a murder mystery so it is not all good humoured banter. The audience learns that a murder has taken place. A woman named Maureen Lyon has been killed. She was a neglectful foster mother who caused the death of a child in her care and someone is out for revenge. Act 1 ends with a murder and Act 2 is a case of 'Who done it?'
This section of the play is most engrossing as the audience and a Detective Trotter tries to get to the bottom of the case. Each of the characters has something suspicious about them, so everyone is a suspect.
Christopher Wren (Lewis Chandler) is a camp funny man, a cross between Stewie Griffin and Julian Clary, but is there more to him than meets the eye? A mysterious woman, Miss Caswell, (Saskia Vaigncourt Strallen) has returned to England for unknown reasons. What is she hiding? A strange foreigner with a twisted sense of humour: Mr Paravacini (David Alcock), is what the locals would call 'a wrong un'.
The audience is invited to figure out who the killer is before his identity is revealed. The amateur detective in all of us is challenged in this fine, well-acted, well directed production.
In today's era of CGI blockbusters, sometimes a good old fashioned murder mystery is just what the doctor ordered - as long as he is not out to kill you, of course!
Review: James Harrington
AGATHA CHRISTIE’S RECORD-BREAKING MURDER MYSTERY THE MOUSETRAP ANNOUNCES MAJOR NATIONAL TOUR FOR 2019 FEATURING ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES STAR GWYNETH STRONG AS MRS BOYLE
THE LEGENDARY WHODUNNIT IS EMBARKING ON AN EXTENSIVE TOUR OF THE UK WHILE CONTINUING ITS RECORD-BREAKING RUN IN THE WEST END
THE LEGENDARY WHODUNNIT IS EMBARKING ON AN EXTENSIVE TOUR OF THE UK WHILE CONTINUING ITS RECORD-BREAKING RUN IN THE WEST END
The Mousetrap, the legendary whodunnit from Queen of Crime, Dame Agatha Christie, has embarked on a major national tour, starring Gwyneth Strong (Only Fools and Horses) as Mrs Boyle and directed by Gareth Armstrong.
This unstoppable West End hit has been delighting theatregoers for 67 years with its macabre murder mystery. Following a record-breaking 60th anniversary debut tour in 2012, this timeless thriller The Mousetrap returns by popular demand, with an extensive new tour that is travelling the length and breadth of the country giving audiences all across the UK the opportunity to discover theatre’s best kept secret.
Gwyneth Strong will perform as Mrs Boyle. The cast also includes David Alcock (Mr Paravacini), Geoff Arnold (Detective Sgt. Trotter), Nick Biadon (Giles Ralston), Lewis Chandler (Christopher Wren), John Griffiths (Major Metcalf), Harriett Hare (Mollie Ralston) and Saskia Vaigncourt-Strallen (Miss Caswell).
This unstoppable West End hit has been delighting theatregoers for 67 years with its macabre murder mystery. Following a record-breaking 60th anniversary debut tour in 2012, this timeless thriller The Mousetrap returns by popular demand, with an extensive new tour that is travelling the length and breadth of the country giving audiences all across the UK the opportunity to discover theatre’s best kept secret.
Gwyneth Strong will perform as Mrs Boyle. The cast also includes David Alcock (Mr Paravacini), Geoff Arnold (Detective Sgt. Trotter), Nick Biadon (Giles Ralston), Lewis Chandler (Christopher Wren), John Griffiths (Major Metcalf), Harriett Hare (Mollie Ralston) and Saskia Vaigncourt-Strallen (Miss Caswell).
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Gwyneth Strong is best known for her role in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses in which she starred in the role of Cassandra. The role gained Gwyneth mainstream recognition and she appeared in the hit comedy show as well as several Christmas specials between 1989 and 2003. More recently, she joined the cast of EastEnders in the role of Geraldine Clough. Other television credits include The Great Train Robbery, Silent Witness, Casualty, Doctors and Murder in Suburbia. Gwyneth appeared in the UK tour of Our House, in which she played Kath Casey. Her stage credits also include Stand (Oxford Playhouse/Battersea Arts) Monkey Bars (Unicorn Theatre), A Round-Heeled Woman (Aldwych), When You Cure Me (Bush Theatre), Ancient Lights (Hampstead Theatre) and Care (Royal Court).
First seen in Nottingham in 1952 starring Richard Attenborough and his wife Sheila Sim, The Mousetrap went on to become the world’s longest running stage production following its West End transfer to St Martins in 1952 where it has played ever since, continuing a record-breaking run with over 27,500 performances in London so far. The beloved murder mystery returns to the road following the success of the first ever UK tour in 2012. |
The Mousetrap continues its open-ended run at St. Martin’s Theatre, London.
SOUTHEND PALACE THEATRE https://southendtheatres.org.uk 01702 351135
Monday 17 – Saturday 22 June 2019
NOTTINGHAM THEATRE ROYAL https://trch.co.uk 0115 989 5555
Monday 24 – Wednesday 26 June 2019
BRISTOL HIPPODROME https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome/ 0844 871 3012
Thursday 27 – Saturday 29 June 2019
STOKE REGENT THEATRE https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/regent-theatre/ 0844 871 7649
Monday 1 – Saturday 6 July 2019
BRIGHTON THEATRE ROYAL https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-brighton/ 0844 871 7650
Monday 8 – Saturday 13 July 2019
NORWICH THEATRE ROYAL www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk/ 01603 630 000
Monday 15 – Saturday 20 July 2019
FESTIVAL THEATRE, MALVERN https://www.malvern-theatres.co.uk/ 01684 892 277
Monday 5 – Saturday 10 August 2019
BOURNEMOUTH PAVILION http://www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk/ 0844 576 3000
Monday 23 – Saturday 28 September 2019
EASTBOURNE DEVONSHIRE PARK THEATRE https://www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk/venue/devonshire-park-theatre 01323 412 000
Monday 30 September – Saturday 5 October 2019
NEW THEATRE, CARDIFF www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk/ 02920 878 889
West End:
THE MOUSETRAP St Martin’s Theatre West St, London WC2H 9NZ www.the-mousetrap.co.uk Box office 020 7836 1443
Monday 17 – Saturday 22 June 2019
NOTTINGHAM THEATRE ROYAL https://trch.co.uk 0115 989 5555
Monday 24 – Wednesday 26 June 2019
BRISTOL HIPPODROME https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome/ 0844 871 3012
Thursday 27 – Saturday 29 June 2019
STOKE REGENT THEATRE https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/regent-theatre/ 0844 871 7649
Monday 1 – Saturday 6 July 2019
BRIGHTON THEATRE ROYAL https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-brighton/ 0844 871 7650
Monday 8 – Saturday 13 July 2019
NORWICH THEATRE ROYAL www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk/ 01603 630 000
Monday 15 – Saturday 20 July 2019
FESTIVAL THEATRE, MALVERN https://www.malvern-theatres.co.uk/ 01684 892 277
Monday 5 – Saturday 10 August 2019
BOURNEMOUTH PAVILION http://www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk/ 0844 576 3000
Monday 23 – Saturday 28 September 2019
EASTBOURNE DEVONSHIRE PARK THEATRE https://www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk/venue/devonshire-park-theatre 01323 412 000
Monday 30 September – Saturday 5 October 2019
NEW THEATRE, CARDIFF www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk/ 02920 878 889
West End:
THE MOUSETRAP St Martin’s Theatre West St, London WC2H 9NZ www.the-mousetrap.co.uk Box office 020 7836 1443
WWW.MOUSETRAPONTOUR.COM