Which Agatha Christie play holds the record as the longest running show?

Answer 1

The Mousetrap is a play by Agatha Christie that started off as a short radio play called Three Blind Mice in honour of Queen Mary, the consort of King George V.

It began a record-shattering run on the London stage on 25 November 1952 at the New Ambassadors Theatre and has clocked up over 20,000 performances. It is still running to date (2006) at St Martin's Theatre. A staging at the Toronto Truck Theatre in Toronto, Ontario, that opened on 19 August 1977 became Canada's longest running show. It finally closed on 18 January 2004 after a run of twenty-six and a half years and over 9,000 performances (though some Toronto tourist websites still list it as open).

The original West End cast included Richard Attenborough as Sergeant Trotter and his wife Sheila Sim as Mollie Ralston.

Since the death of David Raven, who made history as the most durable actor for his 4575 performances as Major Metcalfe, the cast has been changed annually. The change usually occurs around November, and was the initiative of Sir Peter Saunders, the original producer. There is a tradition of the retiring leading lady and the new leading lady cutting the "Mousetrap cake" together.

The play is based on a short story, itself based on the radio play, but Christie asked that the story not be published as long as it ran as a play in the West End of London. It has still not been published as a book within the United Kingdom, but the script is available. Under the contract terms of the play, no film adaptation can be produced until the West End production has been closed for at least six months.

By tradition, audiences are asked not to reveal the identity of the killer to anyone outside the theatre at the end of each performance. There is some speculation to the reasoning behind this. One theory suggests that the murderer changes periodically as all of the characters have a motive. Another, and more accepted theory, is to ensure that the end of the play isn't spoiled for future generations.

The story is about a young couple, Mollie and Giles Ralston, who have started up a new hotel in the converted Monkswell Manor. They are snowed in together with four guests and an additional traveller, who ran his car into a snowdrift. Detective Sergeant Trotter arrives on skis to inform the group that he believes a murderer is on his way to the hotel, following the death of Miss Maureen Lyon in London. When one of the guests - Mrs Boyle - is killed, they realize that the murderer is already there. Although the suspicion falls first on Christopher Wren, an erratic young man who fits the description of the supposed murderer, it quickly transpires that the killer could be any one of the guests, or even the hosts themselves. In the end, Sergeant Trotter assembles everyone in the dining room with the plan to set a trap for one of the suspects.

The Mousetrap has now been running for 52 years during which time over 21,000 performances have been given. It is quite simply a great piece of theatrical history because of what it is, a whodunit, written by one of the greatest crime writers.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II graciously attended the 50th Anniversary Royal Gala Performance on 25th November 2002, pictured here with Lord Attenborough, the show's original stars.

Answer 2

i think of that Joan Hickson replaced into proper, there is such electricity in her overall performance and a mind-blowing "je ne sais quoi". besides the shown fact that a familiar value actress Geraldine McEwan is a adverse pass over Marple. If one reads the books no longer something approximately her suits Agatha Christies descriptions. i think of the author would be handing over her grave on the belief-approximately it. that's extremely very nearly heresy. Margaret Rutherford replaced into stable yet very dated, even whilst first filmed, and the humour is regrettably off beat.

Answer 3

The Mousestrap, I absolutely love Agatha Christie. Especially Murder in Mesopotamia, especially because it takes place in beautiful Iraq, before chaos existed.

Answer 4

The Mousetrap - it's been playing for 50 years in London.

Answer 5

The Mousetrap. It's a good story, too.

Answer 6

Mousetrap - just passed the 23,500 performances mark

Will be producing it next year....

Answer 7

The Music Man! (lol)

Answer 8

THE MOUSETRAP!!! :D