Today marks the sixtieth anniversary of a piece of theatrical history. On November 25, 1952, a play called "The Mousetrap," by Agatha Christie, opened in London's West End at the New Ambassadors Theatre. In 1974, the play moved next door to the St. Martin's Theatre, where it continues to amaze and entertain audiences.
The theatre is dark today - it's Sunday - but there is, apparently, a special performance tomorrow, November 26, which you can read about at the play's official website. It is, by far, the longest continuously running play of the modern era - Wikipedia says its 25,000th performance took place on November 18 of this year. If you have never seen the play, and you are ever in London, it is not to be missed - it is vintage Agatha Christie, brilliantly put together with plenty of twists and surprises, and an injunction to the audience, delivered at the closing curtain call, not to give away those plot twists. It is an injunction I will obey.
I would note that the Wikipedia article about the play - to which I have not linked - DOES give the ending away and, for that reason, should be shunned if you haven't seen the play or read the short story on which it was based.
Happy Anniversary, indeed! Thanks, Les, for profiling this play. Most people don't think of Christie as a playwright but she did know her way around a script in my opinion. One of the things I would very much like to do is see the West End production of this play.
Posted by: Margot Kinberg | November 25, 2012 at 02:13 PM
It's a classic, Margot. I think I've seen it twice in London - both times many years ago now, but still about 15 years apart! And you're right, Christie wrote a fair number of plays - and enjoyed doing so, too, according to her autobiography. The more I know about her, the more I find myself in awe; what an amazingly talented person.
Posted by: Les Blatt | November 25, 2012 at 02:26 PM
Never seen the London version (lucky you) but our community theater presented The Mousetrap a couple of years ago -- what fun! And shame on Wikipedia.
Posted by: Karen Russell | November 25, 2012 at 09:13 PM
Karen, I was involved with a community theater presentation of The Mousetrap many years back - and, yes, it was great fun indeed. "Mellerdrammer"? Sure. But fun.
Posted by: Les Blatt | November 26, 2012 at 11:56 AM