Mousetrap marks record 20,000 shows

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- The producer of The Mousetrap -- the play which has kept audiences guessing for more than four decades -- has thrown a champagne reception to mark its first 20,000 performances.

Agatha Christie's whodunit is the world's longest-running play and boasts the best kept secret in London's theatreland -- still audiences do not reveal the murderer's identity.

The show marks its 20,000th performance milestone on December 16, and producer Stephen Waley-Cohen said it still appeals to everyone.

"It is great fun and you can take anyone to it from the age of eight to 80. It was always set in a mythical past and still has an attraction today."

Oscar-winning director Richard Attenborough described the show as a "London institution."

It has defied the critics, rewritten theatre's record books and attracted 10 million devoted fans since it first opened in 1952 when Winston Churchill was British Prime Minister and Josef Stalin ruled Russia.

Attenborough joined in the celebrations with his wife Sheila Sim and 82-year-old Jessica Spencer, the only three surviving members of the original Mousetrap cast.

"The others have gone to the great Mousetrap in the sky," Attenborough said.

Christie gave the stage rights to her grandson, Mathew Prichard, on his ninth birthday. He has now seen the show more than 20 times and its still sworn to secrecy on who the killer is.

"The enjoyment of the audience watching it is transparent. I saw it once with a group of Japanese and they had a great time and hissed the killer at the end."

Reflecting on his memorable birthright, Prichard said "I was in the right place at the right time. The family are very proud to be part of theatre history. The play has no sex and no obvious violence and it is easy to enjoy."

The play has now made it to the 21st century and Waley-Cohen sees no sign of it running out of steam in this millennium. "You and I won't be here but I don't see why it shouldn't be."

Originally written as a radio play at the request of Queen Mary to mark her 80th birthday, the play has been translated into 23 languages and been seen in more than 40 countries.

But the film is still on hold. The producer, who bought the rights on condition he did not make the film until the play closed, died recently -- and The Mousetrap shows no signs of flagging on stage.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

The Mousetrap
Agatha Christie

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