As part of our Lessons from the West End series,Rekha John-Cheriyan looks at The Mousetrap, the longest running play in the world! She appeared as Mrs Boyle in the 2024/25 cast at St Martin’s Theatre in London’s West End and shares her reflections with us on the lessons she learnt playing the role and from the play as a whole.
Last year, I was in “The Mousetrap”.
I had the best time on that show, working with a lovely cast and crew and playing to a full house of audiences from around the world who all left understanding why this is the longest running stage production in the world – now in it’s 74th year.
At first glance, when I started working on it, I thought it was just a classic mystery, full of twists and suspense. But as the weeks and months went by, I realised that beneath the surface lie a number of moral and spiritual issues.
So imagine with me, a remote guesthouse in the English countryside – snowed in, cut off from the world, and full of strangers harbouring secrets. This is the setting of Agatha Christie’s famous play, where a group of guests discover that among them is at least one murderer—and everyone is a suspect.
However, it’s difficult to say much more than that, because at the end of each performance the audience are asked to keep the secret of whodunit, and I need to be faithful to that here without giving away any clues.
I will say though that we can see how “The Mousetrap” holds up a mirror to the human condition – with all its fear and guilt.
Suspicion spreads like a virus. Each character begins to judge the others. Everyone is trying to guess who the killer is, often based on outward appearances, half-truths, or old prejudices. As some hide their pasts, others make assumptions.
But Jesus warns us about this very trap in Matthew 7:1–5.
Do not judge.
Being critical of others while things are wrong in our own lives is what Jesus specifically condemns in this passage. We are in no position to notice every little fault in others when we probably all have enormous flaws in our own lives.
A very good example of this is the character I played in “The Mousetrap” – Mrs Boyle. Nothing is good enough for her, and so all that comes out of her mouth is constant judgmental complaining. Someone should have told her: if you only want to point out how wrong everyone else is, but are never willing to receive correction yourself, then you are actually in no position to judge.
We really should aim not to be that person. To not be openly critical of others while walking around with faults that are as obvious as logs protruding out of our eyes.
But why do we rush to judge?
Perhaps because it gives us a sense of control. It comes from a superiority complex. That is probably most apparent on social media, where it is clear that some people judge others to elevate themselves or seek validation for their own insecurities. The anonymity afforded by the internet can make it easier for people to express negative opinions without facing immediate consequences.
In a fearful, uncertain world, judging others can feel safe. But it’s a false security. Judgments without full truth are simply assumptions and, just as in “The Mousetrap”, wrong assumptions can lead to danger.
Society makes judging feel quite normal.
We tend to be very quick to respond with criticism when someone makes a choice that we don’t agree with—even if it is unspoken.
We form opinions about how others raise their children.
We form opinions about how others should dress or act.
We form opinions about things we know nothing or little about.
A few years ago, at the meet and greet for a new show, I was in a rehearsal room meeting other members of the cast for the first time. A large muscular man walked in, covered with tattoos, including up his neck and one on the side of his shaved head. As he came in, he shouted “Oi oi”! I remember looking over and thinking, “Oh no, please, please don’t let him sit next to me.” But of course, he did… and I ended up getting to know the most lovely, kind and gentle man who is still a friend to this day.
When we criticise or condemn, we will often be responding to people in ways that are hurtful, harsh, and, well… judgmental.
The worst thing is, we probably don’t even realise we are doing it.
We should think hard about this nugget of Jesus’ teaching: first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
We all have logs.
We have problems and issues in our lives and behaviours that need fixing before we have any right to comment about the issues of others. But when we allow God to remove our logs, we don’t just see others more clearly, we see them more compassionately. We see them the way Jesus does.
So I encourage you today to pray about your logs. And if you think you don’t have one, ask God to show you what it is. Think of Him as your optician, because before we offer to fix someone else’s sight, we need to make sure our own vision is clear.
Judging others is easy – looking in the mirror is hard!
Written by Rekha John-Cheriyan. Rekha is an English actress of the stage and screen, and a Local Preacher in the Methodist Church. She is also an actress with multiple stage and screen credits including appearing as Mrs Boyle in the 2024/25 cast of ‘The Mousetrap’ at St Martin’s Theatre in London’s West End.