THE catchy title says it all - a local nod to the famous Agatha Christie classic whodunnit.

But this is the Royal Court Liverpool and that's where any connection quickly goes out of the Roe Street windows.

This is a comedy written by the formidable creative team of writer Kevin Fearon (responsible for the much-loved Christmas shows) and here his co-scribe is also director - the inventive Cal McCrystal.

The main line of questioning in this light-hearted wartime drama is: then why doesn't it work?

This under two hours production has a truly magnificent set - a recreation of the Adelphi Hotel in its hey day created by the talented designer called takis.

And there is a smashing 'Pathe news-styled' film of Liverpool during the second world war years before the curtain rises and we eventually meet the eight-strong cast of familiar names and new faces.

But then something goes wonky in a meandering first half due to a untypically weak script punctuated with surprisingly lame jokes and some visual gags that don't go anywhere.

At one point a character - the Bishop of Birkenhead - asks if anyone knows where the plot had gone? Literally speaking, I wanted to put my hand up and agree.

The pace picked up in the frantic second half where you could throw caution to the wind (please insert your own double meaning here) and let chaos, crude splapstick and semi-farce take over.

There's some saving graces. A 1940s dance number betwen Helen Carter and Liam Tobin. She is Lady Barking Dobson and he is W.C. Groper. Enough said there on character development.

A panto-like seance sequence allowed an array of impressions and proved to be the 'hit' sequence with the audience.

Eithne Brown - one of the city's best actresses - has been nominated in The UK Theatre Awards for her performance in the Leeds Playhouse production of Maggie May.

She is a versatile Court stalwart and, like all the cast, gives 100 per cent, but here she is an tweed strait-jacket of sorts as Miss Marble. Her role should have been the focal force - a stronger narrative input.

That said, Scousetrap is an ensemble piece and it has huge potential if the structure is tightened up.

Three stars - Comic book capers

The production is on until October 29

Tickets from the box office on 0151 709 4321