The Mousetrap at Wycombe Swan Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Mel Randle
Last night we headed off to the Wycombe Swan for one of the most highly anticipated theatre shows I have had the pleasure to review – Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. Known as the longest running play in the West End, it is currently on its 70th Anniversary Tour and I was keen to find out what all the fuss is about.
The story, based on the radio play ‘Three Blind Mice’ by Agatha Christie, centres on a group of individuals who have checked into the guest house of Mr and Mrs Ralston. When they become cut off due to a blizzard and a policeman arrives to reveal details of a local murder, the story unfolds and the shady pasts of the guests are revealed one by one.…..
Now this is a difficult one to review because I have to be careful not to give away the secrets of the show. At the end of the play, the cast ask us not to reveal details of the twist ending outside the theatre. When you have seen it once, you will know the ending and won’t need to see it again. What did surprise me is the similarities between this and ‘And Then There Were None’ which I saw about 6 weeks ago. Obviously both stories are by the same author but the storylines were pretty much on par and I did struggle to differentiate between the two.
With a cast of eight, there were a couple of familiar faces to spot – Todd Carter of Grange Hill/Eastenders fame and Gwyneth Strong, best known as Cassandra in Only Fools and Horses, as well as actors from other popular television shows such as Casualty and The Crown. The role of Mollie Ralston was played by the understudy Hollie Sullivan on this occasion and she was by far my favourite character.
The story takes place in the reception area of the guest house. The set has panelled walls, a grand fireplace, old portraits, and ornate furniture. It was one of the best sets I have seen in a long time. I honestly thought I was looking at the inside of a National Trust property. The piece de resistance was the large leaded window, backlit with falling snow outside. Bravo to the set designer!
The atmosphere and suspense you would expect from a Whodunnit were created by simple lighting, sound effects and haunting music. There were some jump scares and the odd gasp from the audience, but despite this there were lots of comical moments too. The character of Christopher Wren portrayed by Shaun McCourt provided lots of laughs throughout as did the bumbling major portrayed by Carty.
Without saying any more about the story, I have to say it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening that kept us captivated throughout, however I wouldn’t say it was the best thing I’ve seen. Pleasant but didn’t knock my socks off. I think the notoriety around it is what sells tickets to the show and well done to them for keeping the mystery going all this time. I’m glad I’ve seen it but perhaps wouldn’t shout about it from the rooftops.
Rating: 3.5
Ticket Prices range from £16 to £42
The Mousetrap is playing at The Wycombe Swan from Wed 3rd – Sat 6th April 2024
Tickets can be booked online at https://trafalgartickets.com/wycombe-swan-theatre/en-GB
https://trafalgartickets.com/wycombe-swan-theatre/en-GB/event/play/the-mousetrap-tickets