Darlington Hippodrome – until 27th July 2024
Review by Stee Leahy
5*****
Directed by Ian Tolbot OBE
After yet another warm welcome to the beautiful Darlington Hippodrome, I took my seat. I did not know what to expect from the 70th anniversary tour of Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’… I had no prior knowledge of what the play was about, other than it was a classic who-done-it murder mystery. I was so excited to find out.
The first visual I experienced was that of the beautiful set, completely captivating me and pulling me right back into the 1950’s. It was the same set throughout the show and it was stunning.
The way the technical team executed the snow feature was exceptional, constantly subtle and painted the picture so well.
It’s at this point we are introduced to Molly and Giles Ralston, played to perfection by both Hollie Sullivan and Barnaby Jago. The chemistry these two brought to the stage was sublime … Both captivating and cast perfectly, complimenting one another and playing with dynamics throughout. A happily married couple eagerly awaiting the arrival of their hotel guests.
The first of the guests to arrive was Shaun McCourt’s Christopher Wren, one the stand out performances and perhaps the most obvious source of comedy relief. His flamboyance was unmatched, completely changing the tone of the show. He was honestly hilarious throughout. Chefs kiss!
Next up we meet Mrs Boyle, brought to life by the insanely talented Judith Rae. Boyle is somewhat of a nuisance character in the story and with this comes an awful lot of comedy. Her interactions with the other characters is nothing short of exquisite. A typical nagging old lady and possibly my personal favourite character. Her ability to send a blanket of laughter across the entire audience with a simple facial expression is a skill.
After Mrs Boyle we meet Major Metcalf, played respectively by Todd Carty. His booming deep voice and physicality was a welcomed shock to what Carty is best known for (Eastenders, The Bill) – a mysterious character to say the least and most definitely one to keep an eye on. His ability to steal a scene with the delivery of one line is a real testament to Carty’s skill set. Bravo.
The next character we meet is in my opinion, the most mysterious – Miss Casewell. Amy Spinks’ portrayal of Casewell was delicious. I had my eye on her the entire time. Spinks’ emotional thermometer was unmatched. From subtle line deliveries to dramatic outbursts, she had me hooked. She’s one to watch for sure.
Next up, Steven Elliot’s Mr Paravicini – perfection! That’s all I can say. He was honestly so funny. His one liners were side splittingly funny. Elliot’s presence was welcomed with open arms at every opportunity, his comedy timing was great and his ability to “tease” the other characters made way to more welcomed laughter.
And finally, rounding of the cast we’re most dramatically introduced to Detective Sgt. Trotter – played by Michael Ayiotis. Finally, someone to save the day!
Trotter brings a layer of stability to an incredibly untrustworthy environment. His character is far more grounded than all of the others and he plays this dynamic fantastically. Ayiotis’ scenes with each of the suspects is so much fun. Seeing how each suspect interacts with the detective was great.
Set in three acts, I was completely and utterly captivated the entire time. I did not want it to end.
Going into a show with no prior knowledge or expectations and falling in love with that piece of theatre is one of the greatest feelings.
Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’ at the Darlington Hippodrome was easily one of the best plays, one of the best pieces of theatre I’ve experienced in a long time. I’ll be a fan for life and 5 stars just does not do it justice enough.