Brisbane review: Don’t Get Snared in the Mousetrap!

By Lilian Harrington

Production: Mousetrap

Writer: Agatha Christie

Company: New Farm Nash Theatre

Director: Sharon White

Location: The Brunswick Room, Uniting Church,

52 Merthyr Rd New Farm

Season November 21 – December 6

(Fri -Sat evg. 7 30pm and Mat.2 pm)

Bookings: www.trybooking .com/1318898

Mousetrap is one of the longest running Agatha Christie plays to be staged in London. It played in the theatre from 1952 to 2020, and it still holds an audience transfixed today, because of the unexpected twist at the end, making it so hard for anyone to “guess who”; If you do guess the murderer you are sworn to secrecy!

Directed by Sharon White for New Farm Nash Theatre, this “whodunnit” makes mind challenging entertainment for the audience, making it unlikely that anyone will “nod off”.

 The action takes place over two days, in icy cold, wintry conditions, in the Great Hall at Monkswell Manor Guest House, run by the recently married Giles and Mollie Ralston, who are very new to the hospitality business and to hosting hotel guests.

The scene opens on a green set design and a typical English interior, with an open fire, a typical lounge setting, along with a writing desk and six different exits and entrances which are used effectively. The set is simply lit, and compliments the style of the era and the accompanying radio sounds which are cued in at times.

There is a cast of eight, all strangers, who have arrived at the guest house and are now trapped in there, due to there being heavy blizzard conditions and deep snow drifts which have led to all roads being blocked. When Sergeant Trotter arrives on some skis, they learn that a woman has been killed in London and that there is a murderer among them.

Each guest has some sort of shady past and as their stories are revealed the level of mistrust and tension grows between them. The identity of the killer is finally revealed, but not before there is yet another death, and a distressing case of child abuse and neglect to be revealed.

Sergeant Trotter (Tyson Hargreaves) gathers the guests together and re-enacts the events leading up to the murder of a guest, an elderly retired judge, and slowly the motive becomes clearer; a past tragedy involving three foster children who suffered abuse at the hands of their foster parents is revealed; it becomes clear that the murderer was involved.

The guests all with complex motivations and relationships are: an eccentric nervy Christopher Wren (Brendan James), a retired magistrate, Mrs. Boyle (Chris Sibley) an ex- army officer Major, a mysterious woman Miss Casewell (Philippa Dwyer), the strange Mr. Paravinci (John Stibbard), and later Det. Insp. Trotter (Tyson Hargreaves), who arrives to investigate a murder.

In true Agatha Christie style, each character carries a dark secret. Chris Wren is said to be an architect, but his behavior leaves the others questioning; Mollie Ralston (Helen Barrett), who has inherited the Manor from her aunt, seems to understand him much to the discomfort of her husband Giles (Matthew Hobbs), who stepped into his role at short notice. The private Miss Boyle doesn’t like being questioned at all; her secrets are left to be resolved once all is revealed.

The actors gave an energized and well -paced performance which had good timing and orchestration. Of special mention was Tyson Hargreaves the detective, who appeared out of the snow, and gradually became a central focus as he built up his stage presence, along with John Stibbard, as Mr. Paravinci and his strange manner, caught everyone’s attention.  The characters in this “whodunnit” will keep you guessing; Don’t miss it!