Agatha Christie’s murder mystery play travels from Britain to Chennai

 Known to be the longest-running theatre production in the world, the play has kept audiences guessing for over six decades. Now in their 67th year, this world breaking production continues to attract audiences from every corner of the globe. In a chat with us, Denise Anne Silvey, the artistic director of the play and the director of the Indian tour, open up about the play in detail.

The Mousetrap is unique — over the last 67 years, the play has been presented in 27 different languages in more than 50 countries. It was originally written by the Queen of Mystery, Agatha Christie as a short radio play to celebrate the 80th birthday of the late Queen Mary. “I played Miss Casewell in 1994 and then again in 2001.  I took over in my current capacity in 2009.  So it’s been a long and varied association with the show,” says Denise.

Though the play has been running for 67 years and the makers didn’t make any major changes over the years. “We have tried to keep to the original script as much as possible.  Over the years there had been some updates and there was a period when the play was wet in ‘Christie Time’ which meant there were more modern references. About ten years ago, we decided to take it right back to the original script and that is how it remains. The production we have brought here is more or less identical to the current West End production,” she explains.

The Mousetrap has three entries in the Guinness Book of Records, including: for the ‘longest continuous run of any show in the world’; ‘most durable’ actor (David Raven, who played Major Metcalf for 4,575 performances from July 22, 1957 until November 23, 1968); and ‘longest-serving understudy’ (Nancy Seabrooke, who stood by as Mrs Boyle 6,240 times untill March 12, 1994, and actually did so 72 times).

The artistic director assures that there is so much to enjoy for the audience. “Christie is a very humorous writer and there is a lot of wit in the play.  Also, her plot is so strong that it keeps the audience guessing to the last minute. Eight people snowed up in a house where the telephone lines have been cut……  and what happens?   I’ll leave you to see the show to see what happens after that,” she smiles.The play will be staged from November 8 to 10 at Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall, Chetpet. ­