Tuesday 31 December 2013

Day 43: The Mousetrap, by Agatha Christie (day 44 again spent travelling)

I first saw this play with my grandmother many years ago, since it's so long-running (I think at the time it may have been celebrating 45 or 50 years, it's now into the 60th anniversary tour) and while I don't remember much about seeing it then, I certainly enjoyed reading the script. It's interesting that the play shares a name with the play-within-a-play from Hamlet... and a brief look at the introductory notes mentions that in fact Christie named her play in honour of that, as the original title of the radio play (from which the stage show grew) was Three Blind Mice, a title already attributed to a different play.

For the sake of those who haven't seen it, I will take to heart the traditional request (not included in the script, but mentioned in the notes and something I do feel like I might remember from having seen it) that the secret not be given away. It seems entirely reasonable that the longest continuously running show in history should keep a bit of mystery about it. There are plenty of shows and films with various prizes attributed to them, but not many can boast Guinness records, and The Mousetrap has - technically - four (though one of those was essentially a new certificate for longest running production presented at the 50th anniversary gala production).

Of itself there's perhaps not much to say, as with her other plays, Christie has provided varied characters with deep backstories, a meticulously detailed setting and plenty of twists in the tale. Once again, a joy to read (and as it turned out, a pleasant way to spent a dismally rainy afternoon).

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