The Mousetrap at Theatre Royal Windsor

To quote Agatha Christie herself: “Very few of us are what we seem” and this is true of perhaps her most famous play The Mousetrap which is now showing at Theatre Royal, Windsor until Saturday, October 26.

Established in 1952, The Mousetrap, the longest running show of any kind in the world and  I am pleased to say that I am now part of the club of people who have seen it and are keeping the play’s whodunit secret.

It is set in the lovely oak-panelled setting of Monkswell Manor. A snowstorm in the area means that a group of strangers (are they?) are stranded in the house when a murder occurs. Any of the residents could have done it, but how and why? Is the murder related to the one that happened in London the day before?

The show now at the Theatre Royal is a brilliant way of experiencing the mystery and suspense of one of Agatha Christie’s greatest plays. I thought the part played by Lewis Chandler as the camp Christopher Wren was very funny and the critical, moany, aptly Scottish, Mrs Boyle was played very well by Judith Rae who stepped in for Susan Penhaligon. I say aptly Scottish as I am married to a Scot who has a lot of relatives that reminded me of Mrs Boyle!