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Mousetrap celebrates 60 years with gala performance | Mousetrap celebrates 60 years with gala performance |
(about 2 hours later) | |
By Keily Smith BBC Entertainment and Arts reporter | |
The Mousetrap has celebrated going into its 60th year on stage with a gala performance featuring stars including Hugh Bonneville and Miranda Hart. | The Mousetrap has celebrated going into its 60th year on stage with a gala performance featuring stars including Hugh Bonneville and Miranda Hart. |
The Agatha Christie play opened in the West End in 1952 and holds the record for the world's longest-running show. | The Agatha Christie play opened in the West End in 1952 and holds the record for the world's longest-running show. |
To mark the success of the production, a memorial celebrating novelist Christie has also been unveiled. | To mark the success of the production, a memorial celebrating novelist Christie has also been unveiled. |
Christie's grandson Mathew Prichard, was on hand for the unveiling and introduced the 25,000th performance. | Christie's grandson Mathew Prichard, was on hand for the unveiling and introduced the 25,000th performance. |
Mr Prichard was generously given the play's royalties for his ninth birthday by his grandmother. | Mr Prichard was generously given the play's royalties for his ninth birthday by his grandmother. |
For the staging of the gala performance, Phyllida Lloyd, who directed the Mamma Mia film as well as many West End hits, brought together a host of famous faces. | For the staging of the gala performance, Phyllida Lloyd, who directed the Mamma Mia film as well as many West End hits, brought together a host of famous faces. |
Among the cast brought together for the one-off show were Patrick Stewart, Julie Walters and Iain Glen. | Among the cast brought together for the one-off show were Patrick Stewart, Julie Walters and Iain Glen. |
The eight actors had less than 24 hours to learn the play and memorise stage directions. | The eight actors had less than 24 hours to learn the play and memorise stage directions. |
"One of the tricky things is that there are so many entrances and exits and it operates pretty quick-fire," said Chariots of Fire star Nicholas Farrell, who played detective sergeant Trotter. | "One of the tricky things is that there are so many entrances and exits and it operates pretty quick-fire," said Chariots of Fire star Nicholas Farrell, who played detective sergeant Trotter. |
Performed as a staged reading, meaning they were in costume but reading from scripts, the cast admitted to feeling nervous about taking on such an enormous task. | Performed as a staged reading, meaning they were in costume but reading from scripts, the cast admitted to feeling nervous about taking on such an enormous task. |
Much of the success of The Mousetrap has been down to the collusion with audiences, who are asked to not reveal the culprit of the "whodunnit". | Much of the success of The Mousetrap has been down to the collusion with audiences, who are asked to not reveal the culprit of the "whodunnit". |
Tamsin Greig, who took the role of Mrs Ralston, said she was most worried about dealing with props that could ruin the plot. "Can you imagine if I had put them in the wrong place, and not hidden them away?!" | Tamsin Greig, who took the role of Mrs Ralston, said she was most worried about dealing with props that could ruin the plot. "Can you imagine if I had put them in the wrong place, and not hidden them away?!" |
Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville said: "Tonight was the 25,000th performance and tomorrow will be the 25,000th professional performance, so that is pretty special. I'm very proud to be part of such a great legacy. I think she (Christie) has given work to all of us over the years." | Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville said: "Tonight was the 25,000th performance and tomorrow will be the 25,000th professional performance, so that is pretty special. I'm very proud to be part of such a great legacy. I think she (Christie) has given work to all of us over the years." |
Many of the cast for the gala performance confessed to having never seen the play before. | Many of the cast for the gala performance confessed to having never seen the play before. |
Sir Patrick Stewart said: "I came to see it last night for the first time, and I thought 'how has this passed me by'." | Sir Patrick Stewart said: "I came to see it last night for the first time, and I thought 'how has this passed me by'." |
The special performance also had a serious side as it was raising money for the Mousetrap Theatre Projects, which aims to open theatre up to disadvantaged young people and those with special needs. | The special performance also had a serious side as it was raising money for the Mousetrap Theatre Projects, which aims to open theatre up to disadvantaged young people and those with special needs. |
During its 60th year, tickets for The Mousetrap will levy an additional 60p fee which will go towards supporting the charity. | During its 60th year, tickets for The Mousetrap will levy an additional 60p fee which will go towards supporting the charity. |
Christie's grandson, Mr Prichard, will now also give over much of the royalties from the play to arts charities. | Christie's grandson, Mr Prichard, will now also give over much of the royalties from the play to arts charities. |
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