The Mousetrap

I thought this was an April fools joke.

So, has The Mousetrap been closed for sufficient time that the official film version can be made?

This is one of the most bizarre announcements I’ve ever read. Who even goes to watch this (normally) anyway except for American tourists?

Back in a theatre last night for the first time this year!

I have only seen The Mousetrap once before, on tour. It didn't really grab me then. I enjoyed this version more, but I expect a lot of that is due to just being in a theatre (my first time ever in St Martin's, which is a small but traditional looking theatre in every sense).

It was only the second performance of the new Cast A, including Danny Mac during his limited engagement. The cast did a great job (a couple of minor line issues I noticed in the second act, but that's understandable). This will never be the best play in the world, but it was performed with energy and enthusiasm.

It's almost all performed with social distancing, but that may well have always been the case. I can't remember.

Highlights to me were Cassidy Janson and Alexander Wolfe. I did like Danny Mac too as always, but the part he plays is more limiting.

The main change I'd make would be the Covid-19 awareness in the building. I was surprised not to have my temperature checked. There was hand sanitiser available, but putting on hand sanitiser at the time when the ushers are keen to scan your mobile phone is difficult.

The seats are spaced out in the building. I was in the Stalls against a wall, which missed the edge of the stage, but a nice place to sit and the sound projection was excellent. There were quite a few seats unsold or unoccupied which should have been available, despite the House Full sign, so I presume some people took advantage of the last minute cancellation option. The usual annoyance of a family arriving loudly about 10 minutes in, sat very close to me, the daughter complaining about the ice cream flavours, the son rushing out (with a loud chair bang) to check his mobile phone during Act 2. Only one mobile went off that I heard (someone else).

Back to Covid-19. I know it's hard for the ushers, but they do need to enforce the mask rules. There must have been people on every row I could see either not wearing a mask, or with this down below their chin (or nose).

Final thoughts. Go see this. It's so rare to see a fresh cast in the Mousetrap and I'm sure the theatre is much more pleasant without being overrun by tourists. I'm sure Cast B will be excellent too, although it's not really a play I could see twice is close succession.

It is also very popular with UK tourists visiting London, and I suppose they'd say with some justification "Who ever goes to watch 14 minute plays by Caryl Churchill ?". I don't think one outranks the other in terms of theatrical entertainment. 

Does he get murdered and lose his heads and tails, heads and tails or even the whiskers on his nose?

The Woman In Black has been a GCSE set text for several years which boosts the box office nicely.

The filling in my theatrical sandwich (on reflection a three-show day might have been a tad ambitious given my relative lack of recent activity - absolutely knackered today!)... it was a lot of fun but ultimately not as satisfying as either Flight or Cruise. Which is about what I expected. Thanks and respect to FOH staff at all three venues for their friendly welcome and light-touch in applying the usual safety procedures.

Got mine online night before

FINALLY saw this after a million years last week. A rite of passage for every UK citizen

Went to see this last night. Similarly to the above poster, my grandma had wanted to see it as she was a big Agatha Christie fan but passed away in 2020, so thought I would see it in her memory.

I was quite pleased that I guessed who it was but heard a lot of gasps from the audience when it was revealed. The cast were good, especially Christopher Wren, and there were lots of amusing moments. Not my usual cup of tea but enjoyable nonetheless and I can see how it's stood the test of time.

I've never seen it but have read all her books including the script for this.