The West End has many long running productions, with musicals such as “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Miserables” enjoying runs that have spanned more than 20 years. However, these tenures in the capital are nothing compared to the longevity of another production that has been running in London for a whopping 57 years, celebrating this landmark on Wednesday 25th November 2009.
Welcome to Agathie Christie’s The Mousetrap, a production that first opened its doors at the Ambassador’s Theatre on 25th November 1952, the same year in which Queen Elizabeth II took to the throne, meaning that it has spanned an entire era of British history. The show ran at the Ambassador’s until March 1974, after which it transferred and has continued its run at the St Martin’s Theatre, a location in which audiences can still witness the play to this day.
It makes “The Mousetrap” the longest running show in the world, with the cast regularly shaken up to adds to its longevity and audience members attending performances encouraged to keep the secrets of its ending hidden so that future punters can enjoy the show in the same way for many years to come.
But what is the story of “The Mousetrap”? In true Agatha Christie style, “The Mousetrap” is a murder mystery with a twist with a young couple Giles and Mollie Ralston running an large converted manor house as a new hotel. One night they find themselves opening their doors to more guests than they could have anticipated as a snowdrift sends a passer-by and four new guests to the dwelling. These five additions take the form of Mrs Boyle, Christopher Wren, Miss Casewell, Major Metcalf and Mr Paravicini and with their arrival matters soon take an unexpected turn. A phone call from the local police begins the mystery, which is confounded by the news they are about to hear.
The snow is no match for Detective Sergeant Trotter, who makes his ways on skis to the hotel to inform the Ralstons of a murderer on the loose. With the warm indoors a stark contrast to the winter’s night, the murderer could very well end up at the hotel and their fears are confirmed with the murder of one of the hotel guests. It seems that one of the inhabitants of the hotel is a murderer, but time will tell which one of them the illusive guest is.
With such a long run in the capital, many big names of the theatre and screen have walked across the stage of the Ambassadors and St Martin’s Theatre. The original cast included Sir Richard Attenborough, with Sheila Sim and David Raven joining him. Since they stepped down from the roles, the tradition of annually changing the cast has taken place, with only one cast member’s voice remaining from the original – Deryck Guyler – who can still be heard reading out a radio news bulletin to this day.
“The Mousetrap” is a treasure of the London stage and the capital’s Theatreland would be a very different place without it. Who knows how long the production will continue to wow audiences from around the world? Hopefully it will be for many years to come.
“The Mousetrap” continues at St Martin’s Theatre where it is currently taking bookings until 2010.
Venue Information
Venue
St Martin s Theatre
West Street
Cambridge Circus
London
WC2H 9NZ
Travel
Underground: Leicester Square (PIccadilly/Northern lines) - From station head up Long Acre (east) then head left (north) up Monmouth Street at the major junction with Monmouth Street/St Martin s Lane. Turn Left onto Litchfield Street - West Street is almost immediately on the right.
Rail: Charing Cross - Northern line north to Leicester Square, Kings Cross/St Pancras - Piccadilly line west to Leicester Square, Paddington - Bakerloo line south/east to Piccadilly Circus, Piccadilly line east to Leicester Square, Victoria - Victoria line north to Green Park, Piccadilly line east to Leicester Square, Liverpool Street - Central line west to Holborn, Piccadilly line west to Leicester Square, Marylebone - Bakerloo line south/east to Piccadilly Circus, Piccadilly line east to Leicester Square, Waterloo - Northern line north to Leicester Square.
Parking: MasterPark Cambridge Circus. NCP Upper St Martin�s Lane. Parking in central London can be difficult and expensive. Please use public transport.
