‘La Ratonera’ returns to Parallel
The Mousetrapthe classic mystery ofAgatha Christie and the most watched non-musical work in the world, will return to the Apolo Theater from February 25 to May 3, with a new version directed by Ignasi Vidal. After its success at the Valencian box office and a national tour, Christie’s theatrical phenomenon regains its place at Paral·lel with an updated reading.
Since its premiere in London in 1952, The Mousetrap it has been performed continuously for more than seven decades, becoming a true classic of London’s West End and making history with more than ninety countries hosting its production. In Barcelona he also collected very good numbers when he performed in 2014 at the same Apolo. Now, the piece returns with a cast consisting of Octavi Pujades, David Bagés, Rebeca Valls, Lola Moltó, Angel Fígols, Diego Braguinsky, Vanessa Cano, Bruno Tamarit i Lara Salvadorwhich bring to life the guests trapped in the house of Monkswell Manor.
Vidal takes over the direction with the desire to place the story in the present and to give it an agile rhythm and a dense atmosphere. “I want the viewer to feel the terror and nervousness experienced by the characters, and to keep them in a state of permanent confusion,” he explains. To achieve this, he opts for naturalistic interpretations and a scenic game that breaks with the traditional arrangement, with different points of attention coexisting simultaneously to reinforce the feeling of uncertainty. The snowfall that isolates the guests at Monkswell Manor is transferred to the lack of cover and a present-day context that further intensifies the vulnerability of the characters.
An adaptation with the essence of the classic
The new adaptation maintains the essence that has made this work famous for decades – the isolated house, the group of suspicious strangers and the crime that sets it all off – but it does so by filtering it through a current stage language that wants to connect with new generations. Vidal keeps the core of the plot, but speeds up the pace and updates the psychological look so that the story works as an active suspense mechanism.
The director, who in the past played Sgt Trotterdefines this version as “a dynamic theatrical toy” and emphasizes that his main challenge has been to balance respect for the classic with a fully contemporary energy. According to him, this combination, added to the complicity of the cast, is one of the keys that continue to act The Mousetrap an irresistible show. “The audience is hooked from the first moment and word of mouth works perfectly”, he says.
With this return to the Apolo Theatre, The Mousetrap confirms its validity as one of the great titles of the mystery theater. Seven decades after that first performance in London, the Barcelona billboard is reviving Christie’s classic with a proposal that aims to capture both viewers loyal to the genre and those coming to it for the first time. A mystery that continues to work like the first day.
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