Last night I saw The Arts Club Theatre Company’s production oF THE MOUSETRAP at the Granville Island Stage, Vancouver.
This classic Agatha Christie murder mystery play has captivated audiences since its West End debut in 1952. It’s the world’s longest-running play, and for good reason. It’s a master class in suspense, misdirection, and tightly wound tension. My friend and I enjoyed the dark humor and witty dialogue very much. The characters were great.
The setup is a group of quirky strangers who are stranded by a snowstorm at Monkswell Manor, a remote English guesthouse. The guests include an eccentric architect, a grumpy magistrate that reminded me of “Mrs. Doubtfire,” a retired military man, a mysterious foreigner, and a few others with secrets to hide.
News breaks of a murder in London, and soon a police sergeant arrives on cross-country skis, warning that the killer may be among them. When one of the guests is murdered, the tension skyrockets. Everyone becomes a suspect, and the audience is left guessing until the final twist.
The play is famous for its surprise ending, and audiences are traditionally asked not to reveal the killer’s identity after the show to help preserve the mystery for future viewers. Although my companion guessed it right, halfway through the second act.
THE MOUSETRAP began as a radio play, titled Three Blind Mice, and was written at the request of the BBC for Queen Mary. Christie then expanded Three Blind Mice from a twenty-minute radio play into a full-length stage play, adding some characters and a fuller background to create The Mousetrap. It is currently playing its 73rd year in London’s West End, where it has completed over 30,000 performances. Due to the play’s longevity and success, there has never been a film adaptation. Audiences have been asked to keep the secret locked in their hearts and preserve the tradition of THE MOUSETRAP.
I will keep my mouth shut. For tickets until August 10th, 2025:
Check out the Trailer:
https://artsclub.com/shows/2024-2025/the-mousetrap
CAST Jay Clift (Giles), Zander Eke (Christopher Wren), Charlie Gallant (Detective Sergeant Trotter), Brett Harris (Standby for Giles, Christopher Wren, Major Metcalf & Detective Sergeant Trotter), Ming Hudson (Mollie), Andrew McNee (Mr. Paravicini), Melissa Oei (Miss Casewell), Carly Pokoradi (Standby for Mollie, Miss Casewell, Mrs. Boyle), Anthony Santiago (Major Metcalf & Understudy Mr. Paravicini), Beatrice Zeilinger (Mrs. Boyle)
Have you seen this play?
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