The longest-running play in theatre history restarts its tour around the UK due to public demand – with a cast which will include several stars. Directed by Gareth Armstrong, the production is being performed at Colchester’s Mercury Theatre this week, which will be succeeded by other cities such as York, Liverpool or Edimburgh, among others.
No other author incarnates the word mystery like Agatha Christie, whose own personal life was soaked by the genre that turned her into a world-renowned writer. It’s no surprise that she achieved such quick success with her detective novels, but not even her twisted mind could have imagined such a staggering ending for her only theatre work – there just isn’t. For more than 65 years, ‘The Mousetrap’ has been shocking viewers from all around the globe, who travel to the Mecca of European theatre in attempt to solve its nail-biting crime. It was that triumph that led to its first UK tour in 2012. But the story is not finished here: its popularity has been so big that due to public demand, the tour has come back this year – with a cast that will include several stars.
The first addition is Gwyneth Strong, who has been playing the ill-tempered Mrs. Boyle from January, a character she’ll keep performing as until the production travels to Norwich this summer. Known by her role as Cassandra on BBC’s popular sitcom ‘Only Fools and Horses’, Strong has been treading the boards for a long time. Her credits include Stand (Oxford Playhouse/Battersea Arts) Monkey Bars (Unicorn Theatre), A Round-Heeled Woman (Aldwych), When You Cure Me (Bush Theatre), Ancient Lights (Hampstead Theatre) and Care (Royal Court), apart from the UK tour of Our House, playing the part of Kath Casey.
Directed by Gareth Armstrong, the cast includes David Alcock (Mr. Paravicini), Geoff Arnold (Detective Sgt. Trotter), Nick Biadon (Giles Ralston), Lewis Chandler(Christopher Wren), John Griffiths (Major Metcalf), Harriett Hare (Mollie Ralston) and Saskia Vaigncourt-Strallen (Miss Casewell). Soon it will be announced which other celebrities will join the tour, which is performing at Colchester’s Mercury Theatre this week and will stop in towns like Southport, York, Edimburgh and Liverpool, among others.
Originally opened in Nottingham in 1952, ‘The Mousetrap’ transfered to West End’s The Ambassadors Theatre that same year – and has been played at the St. Martins since 1973. It has become the longest running play, with an almost unbeatable record of more than 27,500 performances only in London. The original cast included the unforgettable Richard Attenborough, apart from his wife, Sheila Sim.
For further information and to book tickets, you can check the following link.
Por Guillermo Názara
First Night Magazine 