REVIEW: THE MOUSETRAP BY AGATHA CHRISTIE – LEEDS GRAND THEATRE

When it opened in London in November 1952 Agatha Christie predicted The Mousetrap would only run for eight months, yet it has become the world’s longest running stage production at its London home.

Back in the day before plays opened in London’s West End they went on a provincial tour and 70 years ago the play came to the Grand when two of its stars were Sir Richard Attenborough who played Sgt Trotter and his wife Sheila Sim who played Mollie – now 70 years later The Mousetrap is back at The Grand.

Now a period piece played on a well-designed vintage set its plot is predictable. When five people – all Christie’s stock in trade archetypal characters arrive at a remote guest house in a snow storm its only a matter of time before the lights go out, the telephone is cut off and someone commits a dastardly deed.

The Mousetrap is not a cleverly constructed play and it becomes very wordy in Act 11 making it laboured and rather like watching paint dry.

There’s stella performances from Catherine Shipton as Mrs.Boyle and Todd Carty as Major Maxwell. Both Shipton and Carty have created believable characterizations that are so so Christie and leave you hanging on their every word.

Rachel Dawson’s character Mollie Ralston is the glue that holds the play together – in every Christie play there is one usually with pages of dialogue and no real opportunity for any dramatic scenes. Dawson succeeds in trying to make Mollie interesting and appealing as best she can despite the script.

Garyn Williams as Sgt Trotter was disappointing and weak. He lacked the authoritative air of a police officer and at times his characterization became too comedic resembling something from a 70’s sitcom. Williams and Michael Lyle (Giles Ralston) Mollie’s husband both had radio mikes something one doesn’t see in a drama very often.

Shaun McCourt’s, Christopher Wren started off over the top but was lost and not developed after Scene 1 as he slipped into a different mode of characterization such a pity as McCourt breathed life into the production.

As Miss Casewell, Leigh Lothian deserves top marks for keeping us guessing and being wonderfully but quietly sinister.  Steven Elliott’s  characterization of Mr Paravicini was more of a pantomime baddie  crossed with the Adams family at times but his contribution was a great form of light relief from the sometimes monotonous dialogue.

Now a vintage whodunit The Mousetrap will not have you on the edge of your seat or gripped with fear as other plays of that era did – but will gives you the opportunity to see what has now become a piece of theatre history.

Runs until 2^nd September at Leeds Grand Theatre.

Liz Coggins is a member of The Critics Circle and reviews for national and regional newspapers/magazines.