As a life-long Agatha Christie fan, when I saw that The Mousetrap was coming to Darlington Hippodrome I had to see it.

One thing you know to expect from Christie's work, whether on the screen, page, or stage, are twists and turns guaranteed to throw you off the scent of the murderer.

It was no different with The Mousetrap. It was a classic whodunnit with a small cast stuck in a beautiful old house in the middle of a snowstorm.

The characters ranged from a young couple starting up a bed and breakfast, to a retired major, to a mysterious Italian coming out of the snow.

The set was fantastic and transported the audience to the 1950s with the clever use of an old radio and the incredible props of the 'house'.

One small touch that added so much to the atmosphere in the theatre was the snow effects outside the window of the B&B.

Hollie Sullivan played Mollie Ralston, the young wife struggling to run the start up guesthouse, and she was fantastic.

Her chemistry with Barnaby Jago was excellent and gained a number of laughs from the crowd.

A standout performance was Shaun McCourt as the unsettling and infantile Christopher Wren.

He is the first to arrive at the B&B and within seconds became a crowd favourite throwing himself onto the sofa.

His delight in the news that there had been a murder in London sets the tone for the rest of the self-aware play.

McCourt's character enjoys singing children's nursery rhymes which increases the growing tension in the first act.

The curmudgeonly Mrs Boyle, played by Judith Rae, made an instant impression on the audience with constant grumbling about the amenities provided by the landlords.

Her chemistry with Major Metcalf, played by Todd Carty, was hilarious. The major provided a delightful foil to her constant pessimism.

As the B&B slowly fills up with guests the snow storm outside intensifies. The lighting of the set was used to create a claustrophobic atmosphere as the light outside dims and the night sets in.

Without going into spoilers it is hard to say more. 

As the curtains descended for the interval there was an immediate babble of speculation. Walking to the bar all I could hear were couples, families and groups of friends debating the possibilities of the different characters being the murderer.

Don't miss out on the latest news and stories. Subscribe to the Northern Echo, click here

Most read

Autoservice garage in Stanley sold after owners retire

Man, 38, charged with the murder of Gateshead woman

Uncertainty over future of former Binns store in Darlington

A staple of a brilliant Agatha Christie plot is the ability to guess who the real murderer is before the ending and all the clues are there. The difficulty is in wading through the red herrings and distractions along the way.

Overall, it was a fantastic night of entertainment. The twists and turns of the plot left me bamboozled but there was also an endless supply of laughs from a very talented cast. I left the theatre with a huge grin and the enjoyment of a classic Agatha Christie plot.

I will keep the secret of The Mousetrap and urge you to go and enjoy the play too.

You can buy tickets to the show here.