The Mousetrap is a murder mystery play by Agatha Christie. A prolific writer, she wrote 78 mystery novels, 19 plays, and over 100 short stories. Christie also wrote six romance novels (under the name of Mary Westmacott), 2 books of poetry, a children's book, and 2 autobiographies. Christie managed to write an average of two novels a year through most of her life. The Mousetrap opened in London's West End in 1952, and has been running continuously since then, and is one of the longest running plays anywhere in the world. The longest running West End show, the play is known for its twist ending, which the audiences are traditionally asked not to reveal after leaving the theatre. Cast members in London are limited to remaining in the show for one year only, before being replaced. I have the good fortune to have a friend who just finished a year in the role of Mrs. Boyle in London!
The play began life as a short radio play broadcast on 30 May 1947 called Three Blind Mice in honor of Queen Mary, the consort of King George V. It originated from the real-life case of Dennis O'Neill, who died after he and his brother Terence suffered extreme abuse while in the foster care of a Shropshire farmer and his wife in 1945.
The play is based on a short story, itself based on the radio play, but Christie asked that the story not be published as long as it ran as a play in the West End of London. The short story has still not been published within the United Kingdom but it has appeared in the United States in the 1950 collection Three Blind Mice and Other Stories. When she wrote the play, Christie gave the rights to her grandson Matthew Prichard as a birthday present. In the United Kingdom, only one production of the play in addition to the West End production can be performed annually, and 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. Based on the popularity of this play, we may not see a movie version for a long, long, time!
It’s been a great pleasure to spend a few weeks with Dunes Summer Theatre, and its amazing staff. Thank you to Jeffrey and Amy and Jim for all of their hospitality and support. I hope you have enjoyed the previous shows this season, and make plans to return for the remainder! It’s a special place, with special memories and so much potential for the future.
Please enjoy this evening’s “who dunnit”, and feel perfectly free to place bets on who is guilty at intermission with your friends!
And remember, once the evening is over…please… “Mum’s the word!”
Leigh Selting, Director
