The Rat Trap - The Park Theatre - Review

When you think of the famous playwright Noel Coward, it may be 'Private Lives', 'Hayfever' or 'Blithe Spirit' that spring to mind, or you may take a different approach and think instead of the quirky and quaint theatre that is named after him, but either way, it is probably not 'The Rat Trap'. His very first play, written in 1918 and first staged in 1926, is an exploration of marriage, careers, relationships and ego, that has only been seen twice before in London since its premiere, settling in nicely at the cosy Park Theatre.

Sheila (Lily Nichol) and Keld (Ewan Miller) are to be married, her a novelist and him an aspiring playwright, wrapped up in young love and excitement for their future. But Sheila's best friend Olive (Gina Bramhill) has a warning for them 'When two brilliant egoists marry...there is bound to be trouble'. Both writers are ambitious, with high hopes for their careers, and as Keld's plays find success and Shiela finds herself unable to focus on her writing, the story cleverly explores how professional jealousy and pride can have a detrimental effect on happiness and the ideals of a perfect married life.

Nichol gives a commanding turn as Sheila, in a performance that explores and experiences so many emotions that it must be simply exhausting. From the joyful excitement of marriage and hopes for the future, to the soul destroying prospect of having her talent suppressed by the success of others and the twists that come to bite and knock her down, she goes through it all and Nichol pulls at the heartstrings throughout as the audience hang on her every word.

Keld, driven, determined, a tightly wound spring just ready to explode, pouring every part of his being into his work and taking it out on those around him. Ewan Miller is full of passion, expression and strength as he takes on the challenging role, drawing the audience in as he expertly balances between making everyone love the character and making them loath him, earning both laughs and gasps in a way of expressing the thought 'did he really just say that?'

Taking on a number of lengthy two hander scenes, the chemistry between Nichol and Miller fizzes with tension and excitement from two young lovers with dreams of an idyllic future where they would write and spend all of their time together to the work life balance between home and success pushes them to breaking point. A powerhouse pairing, who have the audience completely enthralled, gasping at the revelations and picking sides.

Gina Bramhill's Olive is full of confidence, friendship and guidance, a been there done that attitude and a want for nothing but the best for Sheila. With some great lines, including the comical 'I put up with you between Exeter and Plymouth' to an fidgety Keld, Bramhill makes the character instantly lovable. And here's some balance, for when you have a character to love, its good to also have one that you love to hate, and for this production that is Ruby Raymond, played brilliantly by Zoe Goriely. With her fur coats, pristine hair and makeup and attention grabbing laugh, Ruby is the young actress with big dreams, and someone who knows one way to get the roles that she wants, and that is to sweet talk the writer.

Daniel Abbott and Ailsa Joy pair up as Edmund Crowe and Naomi Frith-Bassington, a couple embracing the modern by ignoring marriage and running clubs for writers, earning many a laugh with their witty comments. The cast is completed by Angela Sims as Burrage, Sheila and Keld's maid, a bit of a scene stealer as she takes a disliking to her workaholic and snappy master.

Despite being written over 100 years ago, there are elements of 'The Rat Trap' that can be applied to today's modern world. The idea of wanting to have it all, the thriving career and the wholesome family life, against ambition and the pursuit of fame alongside the concerns of how relationships and marriage can change a person. Overall, this much lesser known Noel Coward play is compelling, captivating and clever, blending humour and heartbreak and exploring challenging topics with sensitivity and true to life balance.