Header Image: The full cast of THE MOUSETRAP (c) Brian Geach
Any theatrical production doesn’t enjoy decades of continuous running without being a memorable, genre-defining experience – and no work of theatre has enjoyed longevity quite like The Mousetrap in London’s West End. With only a brief respite during COVID-19, patrons have been able to make the trek to the city for the last 70 years, to enjoy the murder mystery set afoot by acclaimed author Agatha Christie. Unfortunately, being over here in Australia means that we only get to enjoy an authentic production on the odd occasion. But to mark the production’s Platinum Anniversary, John Frost for Crossroads Live Australia has commenced a tour spanning multiple states and venues. Until 20 November 2022, that home will be the Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s (QPAC) Playhouse, where Australian talent fills the shoes of the seven iconic suspects trapped confined within the snow-laden Monkswell Manor, alongside the detective who seeks to solve the “whodunnit”, before the innocent parties are taken down themselves.
Two newly married lovers serving as novice proprietors of an inn. An eccentric and jovial architect. An overly critical older woman. A mysterious army major. A traveller from overseas with many questions surrounding them. An unexpected visitor whose car overturned. The cast assembles at Monkswell Manor on its opening evening, a blistering snowstorm raging outside trapping them inside for the foreseeable future, and a mysterious murder leads a detective to their doorstep. This medley of unique personalities and demeanours conflict and unite, asking the question of whether one of them is capable of murder – and if so – who may be the next target amongst them.
By today’s standards, with likely many works over the decades being influenced or borrowing tropes from works of Christie, The Mousetrap probably appears to have the bare-bones foundations of a cliche murder mystery. To some extent, this is true, but I would not frame it in a negative sense. Despite the rather predictable ending, The Mousetrap is perfectly developed for the stage even today – with the strong dynamic between each character, solid stagecraft, and the progression of events escalating at a very suitable and pleasant rate. Furthermore, the combination of these elements gives it an almost timeless feel, and despite being set in the past, does not have dialogue or references that age the piece to certain generations or those of a certain era.
Part of what makes The Mousetrap such a delight to watch is the casting, effectively bringing each character to life, both drawing from each character’s eccentricities/personalities and immersing patrons in the world unfolding before their eyes. Yet the biggest highlight was their elocution. While this may be because I was close to the front, I could perfectly understand each and every word spoken by the performers, regardless of accent or pace. Although I would argue that the intermittent pre-recorded music numbers from the radio were a bit too subdued and, frankly, unintelligible from where I was seated, the on-stage audio was pitch-perfect.
As for the cast taking on the eight lead roles, there was nary a bad performance between them. For such a highly regarded play, Crossroads Live Australia assembled a stellar cast of seasoned veterans and younger talent, each slipping into the shoes of their characters well. Laurence Boxhall as Christopher Wren was a particular highlight, capturing the eccentric nature of his character well, while Anna O’Byrne as Mollie Ralston delivered a pitch-perfect scream before the end of the first Act, which genuinely sent shivers down my spine.
As I was leaving the theatre, it felt like I had ticked off another item on the “Theatrical Productions to Watch Before You Die” checklist. The Mousetrap felt like not just another production you go to see when it is in town, but rather a whole experience from the moment the red curtain rises, to the whole idea of being part of a community fostered over the decades of those in the know about how the story ends. That said, the tune of Three Blind Mice will probably haunt me for the next few weeks or months at least… that is one downright macabre nursery rhyme.
Tickets to the QPAC Opening Night performance of The Mousetrap were provided to facilitate this review by Crossroads Live Australia and Brisbane publicist Cinnamon Watson Publicity.
The Australian production of The Mousetrap will be touring Australia until at least June 2023, with confirmed stops at Adelaide’s Her Majesty’s Theatre in December, Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre in February 2023, and Parramatta’s Riverside Theatre in June 2023. More information on how to book tickets at each of these venues can be found on the official The Mousetrap Australian National Tour website.