Show: The Mousetrap
Format: Theatre
Genre: Drama
Date: May 30 2019
Location: Empire Theatre, Liverpool
The Mousetrap is the longest-running play in the world, so expectations were high as I took my seat in the auditorium at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre. Now, the characters are stock. And of course, the references are old hat, especially about sexuality and sexual politics. But there is some resonance in some of the comments on class.
The Mousetrap
Synopsis Of The Mousetrap
The plot uses every trope of a whodunnit that we have come to know and love. The red herring, the suspicious reaction, the mysterious backgrounds of the characters. Watching it today, 67 years after it was first performed, it reads like a love letter to the genre. Its enduring popularity is perhaps down to its familiarity, and its contrast to the grittier and more graphic crime programmes we have on TV today.
Despite it being about a murder, it is strangely comforting to watch. The introduction of each character was a little laborious. But after the introductions, the action was quick to begin.
Analysis Of The Mousetrap
Gwyneth Armstrong puts in a very competent performance as Mrs Boyle. Putting her days as Cassandra in Only Fools and Horses well behind her, she has another Trotter to deal with – Sergeant Trotter (played by Geoff Arnold), who has come to find a killer. Armstrong’s experience shines through as she plays a stern and a serial complainer, who clearly has something to hide.
The volume in the first scene of the play was a little lacking, from both the actors and the radio that was cleverly interspersed into the action to provide some wit. The speed of dialogue in the first scene was also a little too fast to engage the audience straight away. However, this was soon corrected. Saskia Vaigncourt-Strallen’s projection was spot on from the start, and her star quality was obvious from the moment she walked on stage. Lewis Chandler’s performance as Christopher Wren was also affectionate and came closest to breaking away from the stock character.
Other Thoughts
The staging, though the same all the way through, was beautiful. The snowy weather outside was genuine. Meanwhile, the fire indoors creates an atmosphere of isolation on a snowy day. The lighting design was exquisite.
The plot was, as one should expect from Christie, elegantly woven, with lots of twists and turns. The audience keep guessing until the last possible moment. Aside from the plot, there are also some gems of standalone lines in there that could be easily overlooked. These focus on art, human interaction and whether we can ever really know someone at all.
Summary Of The Mousetrap
For anyone interested in theatre and its history, and who likes a good yarn, it is a must. This is a play that doesn’t demand too much of its audience, and that ultimately takes them on an enjoyable ride as they all get the chance to play detective in the safety of the theatre.
