With over 27,000 performances in more than 50 countries,
1. The Legacy
Not much is given away in advertising for this production, but what is often highlighted is the length of time the play has been on stage, i.e. a remarkable 65 years! This has made it the longest running play on London’s West End.
Dame Agatha Christie initially wrote this play as a present for Queen Mary, upon her request, in 1947 as a thirty-minute radio drama called Three Blind Mice. 5 years later, the play developed into what The Mousetrap is today as a gift to Christie’s grandson, Matthew Prichard, who was nine at the time. Since then, he has taken his own children to see the play – that’s four generations. If that’s not impressive, I don’t know what is.
2. The Story
Despite having just one set, you are completely swept up in the story almost as if you’re watching the happenings as a fly on the wall. The Mousetrap is set in a newly transformed guesthouse run by a young married couple. The story begins with the couple readying the house for their first guests. While getting things in order, we hear over the radio that there is a serial killer on the loose. One by one, guests arrive bringing different personalities and quirks into the mix. We spend some time getting to know the eccentric characters as they interact until they’re informed that they have been snowed in with no contact to the outside world. To make matters worse, we learn that the murders that have been happening are linked to someone in the house. At the end of Act 1, one of the guests is killed, completely changing the dynamic in the house as everyone starts distrusting one another. Every moment of this production has you completely captivated.
3. The Mystery
Seeing the diverse characters interact as the story unfolds is amusing and has you constantly chopping and changing your suspicions of how they may be linked to the murders or who the murderer may be. You’ll be on the edge of your seat as you try to solve the mystery before it is revealed. During the intermission, the foyer is abuzz with people sharing who they think is the murderer, which is fun to be a part of. Of course, we find out who the killer is and what their motives were at the end of the play. The clever twist ending is followed by the audience being asked not to reveal the secret after leaving the theatre, which is largely a part of the play’s success in my opinion. Beyond the enthralling story, feeling a part of the secret makes it all the more enjoyable.
Conclusion
The Mousetrap is a thoroughly entertaining whodunit that checks all the boxes. It’s suspenseful, enchanting and humorous – an interesting combination that is sure to keep audiences of all ages on the edge of their seats.
Don’t miss out! Book your tickets today.
24 January – 3 March 2019
Performances: Wed – Fri @ 8pm, Sat @ 4pm & 8pm, Sun @ 3pm
Tickets: R100, R150, R200, R240
Computicket or Theatre Box Office: (011) 511 1818
