LAST night Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’ took to the stage of the New Theatre, and the people of Cardiff drew in to see a play which has been running for more than 60 years.

The Mousetrap tells the story of a most unusual assortment of people who, by chance, are all staying at a remote guest house in the country.

The audience are quickly immersed in a mystery where no one is safe, but everyone is a suspect.

Mollie and Giles Ralston (Anna Andresen and Nick Barclay), hold the story together as the owners of the guesthouse. The play opens with a radio broadcast, which reveals that there has been a murder in London, by a person wearing a dark coat, a light scarf and a felt hat.

As the guests arrive throughout the first half, some may realise that this brief description could very well fit anyone.

Gregory Cox gives an excellent performance as Mr Paravicini, a mysterious man with a thick foreign accent, who seems to have stumbled across the guesthouse during his travels. Several times he makes the audience jump with surprise and then laugh with relief. The character, constantly amused by his own dark humour, is the obvious choice of suspect for us. However, as the story unfolds, it seems that few of the characters are as innocent as they first appear...

Oliver Gully plays the part of Christopher Wren, an excitable character who appears very pleased with himself. He brings undeniable energy to the stage, and delights in the possibility of a murder mystery.

Major Metcalf, (Tony Boncza), remains quiet for much of the play, but the character is vital to the story, as he has the pleasure of revealing one of the shocking twists at the end.

The Mousetrap holds the audience like no other play of its kind, although there are many clues which are easily missed.

Only a select number can solve the mystery before the end!

*The Mousetrap will stay at the New Theatre until Saturday.

Elizabeth Morgan