The Mousetrap - Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury

There is something wonderfully comforting about seeing The Mousetrap on stage. It may be one of the most famous plays ever written, but what is surprising is just how engaging it still feels. I found myself completely drawn into the mystery. It is easy to see why audiences have continued to flock to this Agatha Christie classic for so many years.

The story is set at Monkswell Manor, a newly opened guest house run by a young married couple, Mollie and Giles Ralston. Eager to make a success of their new venture, they welcome a small group of guests just as a heavy snowstorm begins to cut off the countryside. News soon arrives of a murder in London and, before long, it becomes clear that there may be a connection between that crime and someone staying at the house. With the snow getting deeper and no obvious way out, the atmosphere becomes increasingly tense as everyone starts to wonder who they can trust.

Mollie Ralston is warm-hearted and likeable from the start. She wants everything to run smoothly and genuinely cares about her guests, which makes her an easy character to root for. Tonight Mollie was played by Sophie Lagden who seemed a little nervous to begin with as her words were very fast, but she soon settled into her role and paced herself.  Her husband Giles is equally welcoming, although he has a more suspicious nature and becomes increasingly concerned as events unfold. Giles tonight was played by Ben Greswell who was excellent in the role, delivering all the aspects of Giles' character. 

The guests are a wonderfully mixed group. Christopher Wren is perhaps the most memorable. He is energetic, quirky and slightly eccentric, providing plenty of humour while also remaining unpredictable enough to keep the audience guessing. Thomas Barrett plays him and he was so good it automatically made Chris one of my favourite characters.

Mrs Boyle, on the other hand, seems determined to complain about almost everything. Her sharp tongue and critical remarks create some amusing moments, although she quickly finds herself at odds with the rest of the group. Susan Penhaligon plays her and gives that middle class snootiness perfectly with an air of being just so slightly superior.

Major Metcalf brings a calm and reassuring presence to the manor. He appears polite, sensible and dependable. The Major is played by Nicolas Bailey and he gives the Major a calm and trusting presence. Frankly, I never suspect him.

Miss Casewell is much harder to understand. Quiet, reserved and carrying hints of a troubled past, she is one of the more mysterious characters throughout the evening. Clare Duffy plays Miss Casewell and is fantastic in the role. Enough mystery but also warm and engaging. I think her role was the shock factor back when this was first written as I guess she could be a lesbian. But whatever her secrets, they belong to her and we never quite get to the bottom of it.

Then there is Mr Paravicini, who arrives unexpectedly after claiming his car has been stranded in the snow. He immediately adds another layer of uncertainty to the story. Charming one moment and suspicious the next, he often drew laughs from the audience while also making us question his true motives. James Peake plays Mr Paravicini and is so good that I can’t quite make out if he is guilty of murder or not.

The arrival of Detective Sergeant Trotter really drives the plot forward. Battling through the snow to reach Monkswell Manor, he announces that everyone is potentially connected to the murder investigation. As he begins questioning each guest, secrets gradually emerge. Trotter is played by Alfie Richards who also at times speaks a tad fast to pick up some of the key clues to the story, but certainly keeps us guessing as to who he suspects is the murderer.

What Christie does so brilliantly is make almost every character seem capable of hiding something. Just when you think you have solved the mystery, another clue points in a completely different direction. I found myself changing my mind several times about who might be responsible.

Without giving away any of the famous twists, the final act delivers exactly what fans of a good murder mystery hope for. The clues are carefully planted throughout the story, and the conclusion is both clever and satisfying. By the end, I was reminded why Agatha Christie remains the undisputed queen of crime fiction.

Warm, witty and brilliantly mysterious, The Mousetrap proves that a great story never goes out of style.

The Mousetrap is at Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury until 14 November.