THE MOUSETRAP: St. Martin's Theatre (05/07/25)

By this point it is pretty well established that Agatha Christie is the undisputed master of crime writing, and it stands to reason that her world famous play "The Mousetrap", now in its 73rd year playing in the west end, remains one of her most popular works of all time. The fact that it is still drawing in new audiences, even after seven decades, is a testament to the quality of her work, and how well she builds suspense and has you constantly second guessing what the ultimate outcome will be.

It is for this very reason that I will be honouring the spirit of the play, and not revealing any details of how events transpire, however what I can tell you is that, much like any of her other murder mystery works, you will not see the twist coming. Christie pulls you in every direction, sowing the seeds of doubt at every turn, her storytelling is a complex latticework of doubt, deceit and pure genius. It is this that has helped The Mousetrap has stood the test of time; does this, however, make it her greatest stage work? Very much a matter of opinion, however, thought its effectiveness and the gripping nature of the journey it takes us on are undoubted, something about it does feel a touch dated.

The 2025 cast of The Mousetrap

Perhaps this is to do with the fact that it has morphed somewhat from a modern crime thriller, the staging of which Christie herself had direct involvement, to what is now essentially a period piece, and in spite of subtle updates to the staging, having changed its set three times (with the exception of the original clock on the fireplace) it has very much retained its 1950s aesthetic. Thematically though there is plenty to which one can relate strongly, with themes of morality, trauma, love and loss making this still a marvellously relevant piece of theatre, and though the show's innate Britishness occasionally feels a little stuffy, it remains beautifully human.

Over 450 different performers have taken to the stage in the longest running west end show, and the present cast guiding us through the world-renowned murder mystery are as captivating and sophisticated as ever. Jack Condon as central investigator Detective Sergeant Trotter is a dominant figure, leading proceedings magnificently, with novice hoteliers Giles and Mollie Ralston portrayed most brilliantly by Sam Hollis and Georgina Duncan respectively. The flamboyant theatricality of John Wark's take on the extravagant Mr Paravicini was an effervescent joy, and Lucy Tregear as Mrs Boyle gives us wonderful snobbery and pomposity to counterbalance.

It is clear that The Mousetrap still has terrific warranty to be ever present in London's bustling theatre district, people still flock from far and wide to find out whodunnit! Who do you think the culprit is? Well, you'll have to get yourself down to the St. Martin's Theatre and find out...

★★★★☆

"The Mousetrap" currently plays at the St. Martin's Theatre, further information and ticket sales can be found here.