The Mousetrap at the Assembly Hall Theatre Review
The Mousetrap
Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells
7-12 November 2016
Reviewed by Louise Watts
Everyone must have heard of The Mousetrap. The longest running show in the entire world! This iconic show is still going strong in London and is now in its 60th year having been performed over 26,000 times. That has to mean something, doesn’t it? Well, that’s what I was aiming to find out!
As part of celebrating the 60th anniversary, it was decided to take the Mousetrap out of London on a UK tour. I had the pleasure of watching it at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells, which is a beautiful theatre (inside) with the most delightful, helpful team of staff and a lovely bar and café area inside for drinks and snacks. Parking is simple in the adjacent multi storey where you have a flat fee of £1 for evening parking. The theatre can hold just over 1000 people and the audience was pretty full tonight to see the opening performance of this famous “Who dunnit?”
Dame Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap is based in a country house where a group of people find themselves stranded due to snow. They all become suspects when someone is murdered. The question is one of them did it, but who?? This incredible play has all the classic twists and turns that you would expect in a murder mystery. You think you have it sussed and then another character gets thrown into the mix until eventually the murderer and motive are revealed. Did I get it right? Maybe, maybe not but I have absolutely no intention of telling who the murderer is as this is probably one of the best kept secrets over the past 60 years and I am certainly not about to ruin that!
From the minute the first scene started, the colourfulness of the characters shone through. It was funny, witty and at times downright hilarious! My favourite actor had to be Christopher Wren, played by Oliver Gully. His enthusiasm showed no boundaries and he lit up the stage the minute he entered. The mustard trousers, high at the waist in true Simon Cowell style and tank top created a few giggles but his actual acting performance was outstanding. I found myself chuckling inside when he entered the stage before he even opened his mouth. One of the strengths of the show for me was the broad personality differences in all the characters. The hosts at the Guest House – Mollie and Giles Ralston had this wonderful husband – wife banter which was really quite amusing and I would suspect most married couples could relate to. Major Metcalf played by the very dapper Tony Boncza was cast to perfection with his wonderful diction and even better moustache. Gregory Cox played a remarkable, all be it kind of strange character called Mr. Paravicini who had to be a suspect due to his rather strange personality and sometimes bizarre thoughts! Gregory was hilarious though and truly believable in role. Miss Casewell, in my opinion the quietest most secretive character (or so I thought) was played by the beautiful Amy Downham. She was a bit of a deep, dark person who you could not help but feel drawn to as you knew somewhere under the hard exterior there was a vulnerable young lady. The way her character shone is true testament to the way Amy played her. Sarah Whitlock played Mrs. Boyle who can only be described as a true female sergeant Major style character. The kind of older lady that drives everybody mad but from the outside is thoroughly funny due to being simply quite rude. She was brilliant! That leaves only one-character left in this small cast of 8 and that is Sgt Trotter played by Lewis Collier. Absolutely brilliant – draws you into his way of thinking. He will have you believe everybody in that house could be the murderer and will have a valid theory as to why that is the case.
I must mention the set too. The set is a through hallway in a large country house, with an open fire, fake snow and beautiful wooden decorative walls. It is absolutely brilliant. It has everything you need and you find yourself truly believing that it is snowing outside and that the fire is burning.
What struck me throughout the show was that the production is 60 years old and yet you get no feeling that the story is dated. It truly is a theatre masterpiece that I can’t believe I have never seen before! I would have no hesitation in recommending this to people of all ages. If you have never seen The Mousetrap before and don’t or can’t go to London, you must book to see the tour. I assure you that you will not be disappointed. It is true Agatha Christie at her best!
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £22 to £35 (booking fees may apply).
The Mousetrap is at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells until 12 November 2016. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 01892 530613.
Assembly Hall Theatre, Crescent Rd, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2LU | 01892 530613
