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Marriage and Ambition Clash in Coward's The Rat Trap

2/4/2026

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Story summary
  • Noël Coward’s The Rat Trap, set in 1920s Belgravia, examines marriage and ambition through Sheila Brandreth and Keld Maxwell.
  • Sheila Brandreth sacrifices her aspirations for Keld Maxwell's success, shaping the play's tension.
  • Bill Rosenfield's reimagining highlights Coward's early psychological insights but struggles with pacing and narrative tension.
  • Lily Nichol and Ewan Miller deliver emotional depth, but the production feels stagnant and lacking a compelling arc.