When the ultimate in country-house whodunnits opened in London in 1952, rationing was still enforced and the entire television schedule took up three lines in the newspaper. Many things have come and gone in the meantime, but this play remains. Somehow, The Mousetrap has succeeded in retaining its period charm without becoming out-of-date. It is full of every detective cliche in the book, but bear in mind this was written before the cliches were recognised. Unlike some of its modern competitors, this play keeps to the basic rules of the whodunnit, but still manages to throw its fair share of surprises into the proceedings.