THE MOUSETRAP
by Agatha Christie

My program note:
Fans of Dame Agatha Christie (1890-1976) may not be aware that she was the daughter of an American father, that she was what we now call home-schooled, and that she wrote her first novel while her first husband was flying fighter planes in WWI. She was moreover an accomplished pianist, having studio music in Paris. She might have pursued a career in the performing arts had not her legendary shyness and stage-fright prevented her. The original detective at the Ambassador Theatre was none other than Richard Attenborough.
The Mousetrap was originally written for the late Queen Mary, an avid theatre fan. When asked by the BBC what she would like for her eightieth birthday, she replied without hesitation, "an Agatha Christie play." Agatha Christie responded with a thirty-minute radio play called Three Blind Mice which became a short story and was subsequently turned into The Mousetrap.
The Mousetrap has enjoyed (and continues to enjoy) a success unique in the annals of Theatre History: the play opened at the Ambassador's Theatre in London's West End on November 25, 1952. Truman was in the White House; Stalin ruled Russia; Elizabeth II had only just assumed the throne of England, a beautiful young woman. The play has run continuously ever since, eclipsing our American Johnny-Come-Lately juggernaut The Fantasticks by many thousands of performances. Something like 350 actors (and nearly 200 understudies) have trod the boards in Mousetrap; some cast members are even in the Guinness Book of World Records: David Raven as the 'Most Durable actor' for 4575 performances as Major Metcalf, and the late Nancy Seabrooke for a record breaking 15 years understudying the part of Mrs. Boyle; she appeared in 72 of those 6,240 performances. The play has been translated into twenty-four different languages and has played in forty-four different countries. More than ten million people have seen the play in London in its 56 years before the public. Running In its current home-St. Martin's Theatre-since 1974, it is a near impossibility to book a seat less than several months in advance. Sales have been announced through May 16, 2009.
This shocking-not to say enviable-longevity is quite understandable: it's a terrific evening in the theatre. This is Agatha at her best, serving up not only a "juicy murder," but a collection of eccentric and fascinating characters each embroiled in a thoroughly satisfying puzzle of motives and opportunities.
I first encountered the Mousetrap more than thirty years ago in what turned out to be the smash hit of our summer repertory season. I was fortunate to play the bizarre young man called Christopher Wren. At the time, of course I saw the play only through his very troubled eyes, and knew what a rich character he was-an actor's dream. The extraordinary woman who was to become my real-life wife played the enigmatic Miss Casewell; and we've been unconsciously quoting the play ever since-a topic for a session on a psychiatrist's couch, perhaps. But I digress. Now, I have the great good fortune to revisit this classic of suspense with the more or less omniscient eyes of a director and I find it a truly rewarding experience. The essence of good theatre is honest characters in an intriguing plot. I have more than enough of both to work with. Every character is so completely and so skillfully drawn that the rehearsal process has been one of continual discovery-each clue leading to more and more discoveries. Each new behavior leading to more and more questions: Why did he/she do that? Is she/he telling the truth? Is he/she who he/she seems to be? And for every question, Agatha has an answer, steeped in psychological truth and hard logic. The answers are all right there in front of you. All you need do is find them.
So don't lean back-lean forward. And test your probity and your wits against the Queen of the Murder Mystery in tonight's offering. And enjoy.
The solution to tonight's puzzle is one of the best kept secrets in Theatre History as well. If you know, please keep the secret locked in your heart
Interview in Morning Call by Myra Yellin Outwater
Act I director, actor and DeSales University professor Wayne Turney was relaxing. With two weeks to go until opening night of his production of Agatha Christie's classic murder mystery "The Mousetrap" and his student touring company of Shakespeare in the Schools still in rehearsals, he had time to reflect. Turney is used to wearing may hats. His agent just told him his one-man show, "The Gospel According to Saint Mark" had just received a new booking after "Mousetrap" opens Wednesday. And he already is preparing for the role of Willie Loman in Act I's spring production of "Death of a Salesman." "The Mousetrap is set in a remote country house in the middle of a snow-storm. A group of travelers discover they are stranded for the night. One is murdered and everyone, including the audience, tries to figure out whodunit. "The Mousetrap" is Agatha Christie at her best. It bristles with chilling, funny theatricality. "'The Mousetrap' has been running in London's West End since 1952 and it still sells out," says Turney, who has been researching both the play and the life of Christie, the "Queen of Crime." Turney says that the play is not only great fun for the actors but it keeps its audiences alert with its tricks, mysterious characters, a tantalizing plot red herring and the final surprise ending. "The play is so well written. There is psychological reasoning behind everything the actors do," says Turney. "What I love is that at one point, the solution seems to pass through your mind, but then you reject the idea, until the end when the murder is solved and you sust sit there and say, 'I knew it!'"
Excerpt from October 8, 2008 Morning Call Review by Dave Howell
'Mousetrap' still holds attention
It may be the biggest theatrical secret in history. Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap" has been running continuously in the U.K. since 1952. Yet the ending has been kept well hidden. The characters in the play share a number of eccentricities, secrets and suspicions. It is the quintessential English mystery. There are some interesting modern touches, however. It is implied, at least in this production, that two of the characters are gay, and there are complex psychological elements that make it more than a drawing room puzzle. …Although it is almost required viewing for mystery lovers, "The Mousetrap" is not performed very often in this area. You can't escape being captured by director Wayne Turney's presentation.

Interview in Morning Call by Myra Yellin Outwater
Act I director, actor and DeSales University professor Wayne Turney was relaxing. With two weeks to go until opening night of his production of Agatha Christie's classic murder mystery "The Mousetrap" and his student touring company of Shakespeare in the Schools still in rehearsals, he had time to reflect. Turney is used to wearing may hats. His agent just told him his one-man show, "The Gospel According to Saint Mark" had just received a new booking after "Mousetrap" opens Wednesday. And he already is preparing for the role of Willie Loman in Act I's spring production of "Death of a Salesman." "The Mousetrap is set in a remote country house in the middle of a snow-storm. A group of travelers discover they are stranded for the night. One is murdered and everyone, including the audience, tries to figure out whodunit. "The Mousetrap" is Agatha Christie at her best. It bristles with chilling, funny theatricality. "'The Mousetrap' has been running in London's West End since 1952 and it still sells out," says Turney, who has been researching both the play and the life of Christie, the "Queen of Crime." Turney says that the play is not only great fun for the actors but it keeps its audiences alert with its tricks, mysterious characters, a tantalizing plot red herring and the final surprise ending. "The play is so well written. There is psychological reasoning behind everything the actors do," says Turney. "What I love is that at one point, the solution seems to pass through your mind, but then you reject the idea, until the end when the murder is solved and you sust sit there and say, 'I knew it!'"

Excerpt from October 8, 2008 Morning Call Review by Dave Howell
'Mousetrap' still holds attention
It may be the biggest theatrical secret in history. Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap" has been running continuously in the U.K. since 1952. Yet the ending has been kept well hidden. The characters in the play share a number of eccentricities, secrets and suspicions. It is the quintessential English mystery. There are some interesting modern touches, however. It is implied, at least in this production, that two of the characters are gay, and there are complex psychological elements that make it more than a drawing room puzzle. …Although it is almost required viewing for mystery lovers, "The Mousetrap" is not performed very often in this area. You can't escape being captured by director Wayne Turney's presentation.