World-renowned whodunnit headed for Geelong

The world’s longest running play is set to open in Geelong next month.

The Mousetrap, a genre-defining murder mystery story written by best-selling novelist Agatha Christie, has been delighting audiences across the globe for more than 70 years.

The whodunnit follows a group of seven strangers who find themselves snowed in at a remote countryside boarding house with a murderer in their midst.

Miranda Daughtry (left) as the mysteriously aloof Miss Casewell, with Chris Parker, retired British military officer Major Metcalf.

As their pasts are revealed one by one, the characters scramble to discover who amongst them is the murderer, fearing they might be the next victim.

Millions of viewers, spanning almost 30,000 performances, have watched The Mousetrap and tried to solve the world-famous mystery for themselves before becoming custodians of a long-running secret: the play’s twist ending.

The show, produced by John Frost for Crossroads Live and Shake & Stir Theatre Co., will run from July 4-7 at the Geelong Arts Centre on The Play House stage.

The production features an all-star cast, including Helpmann Award winner Alex Rathgeber (Anything Goes, The Phantom of the Opera) as Giles Ralston, the husband of the new owner of the Monkswell Manor boarding house, and one of Australia’s most renowned stars of the stage and screen, Geraldine Turner (Wicked, Present Laughter), as the unpleasant retired magistrate Mrs Boyle.

Direct from the latest West End production of The Mousetrap comes Alexander Wolfe (front) in the role of Christopher Wren, a young architect with a flamboyant and often inappropriate sense of humour.

The legendary Gerry Connolly (Cyrano de Bergerac, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui) will grace the stage as Mr Paravicini, an unexpected visitor to the manor, while Alexander Wolfe – direct from the West End production of The Mousetrap – is set to reprise the role of young architect Christopher Wren.

“Our goal is to program exceptional arts experiences for all audiences, and Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap is a perfect example,” Geelong Arts Centre head of programming Penny McCabe said.

“Featuring an incredible cast directed by Australian theatre great Robyn Nevin, we are thrilled to bring this classic world-renowned theatre piece to Geelong.”

To purchase tickets, head to geelongartscentre.org.au or phone the Box Office on 1300 251 200 between 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday.