The Mousetrap - The Diamond Anniversary Tour

Synopsis

Opened at the Ambassadors Theatre in London on 25 November 1952. The World's Longest Running Play! A group of people gathered together in a remote part of the countryside discover there is a murderer in their midst. The question is which one of them is the guilty party.

Our Review:

18 March 2013

Before saying anything else, let me reassure you that this review is not going to give away whodunit – I’m now officially a partner in crime of The Mousetrap, and therefore sworn to secrecy.

Indeed, there’s something of the sworn-to-secrecy ‘club’ about the whole Mousetrap experience as the show goes out on tour for the first time in its 60-year history. Still playing at St Martin’s Theatre in the West End, the Agatha Christie classic has notched up all kinds of records as the longest-playing theatrical production in the world. Ever.

And while it’s a perfectly serviceable example of the genre, the biggest mystery is not who is causing the death count to rise in the cut-off, snowbound rural guest house that is Monkswell Manor. No, the biggest mystery is why it is still running for 60 years with no sign of letting up.

The fact is there’s nothing outstanding about it. The plot is somewhat creaky and slow, the playing camped up, the dialogue dated and stretching credulity. M...

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Latest User Review

Norma Postin - 21 March 2013:

Rather silly plot, not as good a in the crime novels by Agatha Christie and the play lacked real dramatic tension. The final denouement was brief and a bit ridiculous . I already knew name of killer ( had looked at last page of book of play some while ago) but felt it was fairly obvious early on . The actors did their best with what is essentially a silly plot with dodgy dialogue. It was interesting that Christie had included a probably gay charactar ( camp in costume and behaviour and also keen to help with the cooking ) and there was suggestion that a young female charactar may have been a lesbian. She had been interupted writing a letter which was probably a love letter to another woman. Daring stuff for early 1950s ! PS It was lovely to see Karl Howman again.Used to love his TV work in 1980s....

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