The Mousetrap, a murder-mystery play by Agatha Christie, will be presented by the Twin Beach Players through special arrangements with Samuel French, Inc. at the North Beach Boys and Girls Club weekends from October 18 through November 3. Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinees are at 3 p.m.
The Mousetrap premiered on October 6, 1952 at the theater Royal Nottingham in the West End of London and has been running continuously ever since. It enjoyed its 25,000th performance on November 18, 2012, and is the longest running modern-era show. This play is renowned for its “twist” ending which audiences traditionally were pledged not to reveal after leaving the theater. Mousetrap actually began as a short radio play in 1947; the play in its current form is based on a short story which was based on the radio play.
The setting is the Great Hall of Monkswell Manor in the present day.
Act I opens with the murder of a woman in London – the audience is exposed to sounds only, on a darkened stage. Then, we are transported to Monkswell Manor, which is now run as a Guesthouse. When one of the guests is murdered, it becomes apparent that the murderer sought by police is at Monkswell. In Act II, each character is suspected and investigated by Detective Sergeant Trotter of the London Police Department, who schemes to set a “trap”.
This Twin Beach Players production incorporates the original radio play aspect by featuring a radio host (Sid Curl) with live sound effects performed here by Brianna Bennett, which are fundamental to the plot. (Ms. Bennett has been with TBP for three year
