Years, I’ve been in a state of tension.

For many reasons, granted.

But akin to a reality TV show fan, nervously scrolling through online forums, terrified to uncover some spoiler from the latest episode before they’ve had chance to catch up (I say all that like that’s also not me), I’ve spent years, years, avoiding this particular spoiler.

Whodunnit…

As news spreads of a murder in London, a group of seven strangers find themselves snowed in at Monkswell Manor, a remote countryside guesthouse.

When a police sergeant arrives, the guests discover – to their horror – that a killer is in their midst.

One by one, the suspicious characters reveal their sordid pasts.

Which one is the murderer?

Who will be their next victim?

I’ve been saying for years, (without any progress made other than saying it), ‘I really need to go and see The Mousetrap, in London.’

Then I’d see a dog or something and become duly distracted until the next time of saying it.

But joy! If you procrastinate enough, it will come. To you.

And to a theatre across the road , no less.

The Mousetrap originally premiered at Theatre Royal Nottingham in 1952 and toured the UK before opening in the West End where it continues its record-breaking engagement at the St Martin’s Theatre, 70 years on.

And so, on its Anniversary Tour, this, the world’s longest running play, written by Agatha Christie, the world’s best selling-novelist of all time, there would be something wrong if the show disappointed, regardless of how much I’ve built it up in my mind.

Reader, I’d love to deliver a plot twist…but just like whether I will reveal in this blog, on this day, just whodunnit…I cannot.

The Mousetrap is everything one would hope and want it to be. Like a gift from another age, but timeless in its beauty and execution and ability to entertain, this genre-defining stage-show, provided me with everything I needed.

A one location set, a group of characters who couldn’t be more different from the next, each radiating charisma, quirkiness and downright dubious behaviour and suspicion, and a body or two thrown in.

So you might say, this touring production has it easy. All the elements are in place; the history, the accolades, the plaudits, the big names, the plot, the characters…

Surely it was a shoo-in for success.

How much could be added to this individual production, by cast and crew, on one windy, rainy night on The Quays (I hate keep writing that, but it keeps raining and I keep arriving home like a wet dog. A wet dog that’s just been artistically enriched by another piece of top-rate theatre, but wet all the same)?

With reputation comes expectation and with expectation comes pressure.

The cast were perfection, and owned those roles as though written for them by the good Dame herself.

Produced by Adam Spiegel with Direction by Ian Talbot OBE and Denise Silvery, this production did more than meet expectation, do more than due diligence to keeping its reputation intact, and provided a brilliant 2 hours of murder-mystery theatre.

Starring Todd Carty (EastEnders, Grange Hill, The Bill) who plays the splendid guffawing Major Metcalf and Gwyneth Strong (best known for playing Cassandra  in Only Fools and Horses) as the gloriously obtuse Mrs. Boyle, they were joined by Hollie Sullivan as the exquisitely poised and pleasant Mollie Ralston, Barnaby Jago as her cut-glass ‘altogether together ‘(but slowly losing patience) Giles Ralston, Shaun McCourt as Christopher Wren, a hyperactive, playful soul who one minute you wanted to kill, the other give him a one-man show)  Amy Spinks as the confident, independent woman of her time Miss Casewell, Steven Elliot as the larger than life, rather operatic-like unexpected guest, Mr. Paravicini, and finally Michael Ayiotis as the stiff upper-lipped, skiing Detective, Sgt. Trotter, who, if hoping for an open and shut case, was sadly mistaken.

With the era represented beautifully by the set design, the costuming, and those wonderful crackling tones of the gramophone, there was nothing to do but sit back and enjoy what has been delighting audiences for decades, and no doubt will continue to delight for decades more.

And whilst the dulcet, recognisable tones of the ditty Three Blind Mice already sent a shiver down my spine thanks to memories of me and my junior school record group, indeed strangling the life out of it, The Mousetrap has now taken fear of hearing those three opening notes to a whole ‘nother level.

Do I know whodunnit? Yes.

Will I tell? No.

Find out for yourself by heading over to The Lowry for more details and tickets for shows upto and including this Saturday 13 April 2024; https://thelowry.com/whats-on/the-mousetrap/