Review: THE MOUSETRAP, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, November 9 2015

Amongst the ongoing change and turnover in the West End, Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap has always been solid and constant. After a short UK tour, the show set up camp at the Ambassadors Theatre in London in 1952 where it played for 22 years before moving to the bigger St Martin's Theatre where it is still playing today. The production is now the longest running show of any genre of modern times. The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry is its last stop on the show's first UK tour.

It is a testament to Christie's writing that people keep flocking to see The Mousetrap after all this time. Having created infamous characters such as Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple earlier on in her career, they still appear on screen every so often but since its initial outing as a radio play in the late 1940s, The Mousetrap has been the gentle burner ever since. There are many murder mystery stories by other authors which have been adapted for the stage but with the twists and turns and layers unravelled in this piece, it is easy to see why it's become such a staple in British theatre.

Set in the newly formed Monkswell Manor Guest House, there is wooden panelling aplenty and it has a quintessentially traditional feel. There are plenty of entrances and exits and Ian Watt-Smith's direction uses the full playing space to its advantage. Peter Vaughan Clarke's lighting is predictable but he is restricted by the setting; however he does manage time of day very well using long fades effectively.

Each member of the company has a spotlight on them throughout as potential murder suspects. Therefore the detailing to their performances needs to be very high and they managed this well. All have very different characteristics from the neurotic Christopher Wren played energetically by Edward Elgood to the quiet mannered yet strong minded Miss Casewell played by Hester Arden. Jonathan Sidgwick gives an understated performance as the charming yet slightly sinister Mr Paravicini who comes in as one of the main suspects having arrived unannounced and from the very start, Esther McAuley is a great hostess as Mollie Ralston.

A quality production of a well-loved play.

The Mousetrap runs at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry until Saturday 14th November 2015.

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