The Mousetrap - It's laid for you!
Alan Pascoe
in London. It is based on a story by Agatha Christie. You might think
that this success has been due to the quality of the play. You would be
wrong. I have seen many screen and film adaptations of Agatha Christie
and I have seen "The Mousetrap". It is not amongst her best. On the
contrary, it is the weakest of her work that I have seen. Why then does
the play run and run? The theatre at which it is shown has a monopoly -
there is no book , there is no film, and there is no TV adaptation. If
you are a fan of Agatha Christie, you will want to know the story, but
you can't do this unless you go to London to see the play. This would
have been the biggest incentive to see the play in the early years. Now,
the length of the run is the overriding incentive. Only by breaking this
run will this confidence trick be brought to an end. There must be many
good playwrights out there struggling to get their work staged. Why not
give more of them a chance by now killing off this mediocre play?.
Agatha Christie fans may find this difficult. The play, like others, is
a "whodunnit" - you _have_ to know who did it. But I can help you
overcome this craving:
THE POLICEMAN DID IT!
--
Alan Pascoe | PGP Key ID: 0xD5B1715B
Pam Jacoby
I've seen this play staged several times here in Minnesota. He's told
you the reason there aren't any films, etc, of it.
Karen Horn
:
: THE POLICEMAN DID IT!
:
: --
: Alan Pascoe | PGP Key ID: 0xD5B1715B
Okay, since you posted the spoiler....I can ask this question then.
I seem to remember that in the souvenir brouchure around the 30th
anniversary, Christie was quoted that at some time early in the run,
someone pointed out to her a plot flaw which would have made it impossible
for the policeman to have done it. Anyone know what that might be?
Karen
Bruce Rifleman
the play and would suggest to anyone to see it while in London. You are
obviously not a real fan of Agatha Christie, and a bit of a jerk to boot,
because otherwise you would never give the ending away to other fans even if
you did not enjoy the play yourself. However, I can't get too riled up
because I know you must have a dull and pitiful daily existence in order to
get satisfaction out of doing such a thing.
Nicole
Bruce Rifleman
as the play is based on one of Agatha Christie's most famous and highly
praised short stories, "Three Blind Mice." Get your facts straight.
Nicole
Wayne LeGette
some great writing and characters.
Wayne LeGette
http://www.gate.net/~wlegette
remove "SPAM" in e-mail address to reply.
Lizzie Hayes
<brif...@ipass.net> writes
>You are
>obviously not a real fan of Agatha Christie, and a bit of a jerk to boot,
>because otherwise you would never give the ending away to other fans even if
>you did not enjoy the play yourself. However, I can't get too riled up
>because I know you must have a dull and pitiful daily existence in order to
>get satisfaction out of doing such a thing.
Well said Nicole. Couldn't have put it better myself.
--
Lizzie Hayes
Alan Pascoe
>
> I am a big Agatha Christie fan, having read almost all her books. I loved
> the play and would suggest to anyone to see it while in London.
A matter of opinion of course, but I think "The Mousetrap" is mediocre,
and that's being generous. This play has not run for forty years on
merit.
> You are
> obviously not a real fan of Agatha Christie, and a bit of a jerk to boot,
> because otherwise you would never give the ending away to other fans even if
> you did not enjoy the play yourself.
I'm not a _fan_ of Agatha Christie but I have liked adaptations of her
stories if they have merited it. It wasn't a question of me not liking
"The Mousetrap", it was just that it did not warrant special attention.
If "fans" do go and see it there's nothing to offend them, but they are
going to be very disappointed.
> However, I can't get too riled up
> because I know you must have a dull and pitiful daily existence in order to
> get satisfaction out of doing such a thing.
I don't agree. The way this play is being marketed is basically a
confidence trick, and I feel fully justified in exposing it.
John Gonzalez and/or Yvette Zaepfel
David Hatunen
Alan Pascoe <apa...@clara.co.uk> wrote:
>Bruce Rifleman wrote:
>>
>> I am a big Agatha Christie fan, having read almost all her
>> books. I loved the play and would suggest to anyone to see it
>> while in London.
>
>A matter of opinion of course, but I think "The Mousetrap" is
>mediocre, and that's being generous. This play has not run for
>forty years on merit.
Quite true. It's run for forty years on its popularity. No one
would claim it has great literary artisitc merit. I see no reason
why this is a Bad Thing.
>> You are obviously not a real fan of Agatha Christie, and a bit
>> of a jerk to boot, because otherwise you would never give the
>> ending away to other fans even if you did not enjoy the play
>> yourself.
>
>I'm not a _fan_ of Agatha Christie but I have liked adaptations of her
>stories if they have merited it. It wasn't a question of me not liking
>"The Mousetrap", it was just that it did not warrant special attention.
>If "fans" do go and see it there's nothing to offend them, but they are
>going to be very disappointed.
If they were going to be that disappointed they wouldn't go.
>> However, I can't get too riled up because I know you must have a
>> dull and pitiful daily existence in order to get satisfaction
>> out of doing such a thing.
>
>I don't agree. The way this play is being marketed is basically a
>confidence trick, and I feel fully justified in exposing it.
Marketing be damned. Many, many people LIKE Christie, and they go
to see her plays. In fact, doing a production of "The Mousetrap" or
"Ten Little Indians" is a good way for a community theater to make
some money.
One of the worst productions I was ever in was a community theater
production of "Ten Little Indians". The reviews were scathing.
Almost everyone, and especially the director, got panned
unmercifully. I played Lombard, sort of the lead, and did not even
get mentioned in the reviews; it's the only time I have taken great
releif at being ignored in reviews.
But...
It sold our almost every night, and the audiences loved it. If the
schedule had permitted, we would have extended the run.
--
********** DAVE HATUNEN (hat...@sonic.net) ***********
* Daly City California: *
* where San Francisco meets The Peninsula *
******* and the San Andreas Fault meets the Sea *******
Alan Pascoe
>
> One more thing to add to my previous message. Your whole argument is wrong,
> as the play is based on one of Agatha Christie's most famous and highly
> praised short stories, "Three Blind Mice." Get your facts straight.
>
> Nicole
Then why complain because I said "The policeman did it!" Did someone
else do it in "Three Blind Mice"?
Alan Pascoe
>
> In article <364752...@clara.co.uk>,
> Alan Pascoe <apa...@clara.co.uk> wrote:
>
> >A matter of opinion of course, but I think "The Mousetrap" is
> >mediocre, and that's being generous. This play has not run for
> >forty years on merit.
>
> Quite true. It's run for forty years on its popularity. No one
> would claim it has great literary artisitc merit. I see no reason
> why this is a Bad Thing.
The play cannot be popular with someone until that person is familiar
with it. The play might be popular with a person after that person has
seen it, but having done that, they are unlikely to want to see it
again. Therefore popularity is not the reason for the success of the
play.
> >I'm not a _fan_ of Agatha Christie but I have liked adaptations of her
> >stories if they have merited it. It wasn't a question of me not liking
> >"The Mousetrap", it was just that it did not warrant special attention.
> >If "fans" do go and see it there's nothing to offend them, but they are
> >going to be very disappointed.
>
> If they were going to be that disappointed they wouldn't go.
Another illogical statement. How can someone be disappointed with a play
that he/she has not seen?
> >I don't agree. The way this play is being marketed is basically a
> >confidence trick, and I feel fully justified in exposing it.
>
> Marketing be damned. Many, many people LIKE Christie, and they go
> to see her plays. In fact, doing a production of "The Mousetrap" or
> "Ten Little Indians" is a good way for a community theater to make
> some money.
The theatre in England at which it is shown is not a community theatre -
it is in the centre of London.
David Hatunen
Alan Pascoe <apa...@clara.co.uk> wrote:
>David Hatunen wrote:
>>
>> In article <364752...@clara.co.uk>,
>> Alan Pascoe <apa...@clara.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>> >A matter of opinion of course, but I think "The Mousetrap" is
>> >mediocre, and that's being generous. This play has not run for
>> >forty years on merit.
>>
>> Quite true. It's run for forty years on its popularity. No one
>> would claim it has great literary artisitc merit. I see no reason
>> why this is a Bad Thing.
>
>The play cannot be popular with someone until that person is familiar
>with it. The play might be popular with a person after that person has
>seen it, but having done that, they are unlikely to want to see it
>again. Therefore popularity is not the reason for the success of the
>play.
Many, many people who go to see it in London have already seen it.
>> >I'm not a _fan_ of Agatha Christie but I have liked adaptations of her
>> >stories if they have merited it. It wasn't a question of me not liking
>> >"The Mousetrap", it was just that it did not warrant special attention.
>> >If "fans" do go and see it there's nothing to offend them, but they are
>> >going to be very disappointed.
>>
>> If they were going to be that disappointed they wouldn't go.
>
>Another illogical statement. How can someone be disappointed with a play
>that he/she has not seen?
Because those who have already seen it would have told them. I
remind you that it was you who claimed they would be disappointed;
how can you know that if you don't know them personally.
Nothing worse than a theater snob trying to tell other people what
they *should* like.
>> >I don't agree. The way this play is being marketed is basically a
>> >confidence trick, and I feel fully justified in exposing it.
>>
>> Marketing be damned. Many, many people LIKE Christie, and they go
>> to see her plays. In fact, doing a production of "The Mousetrap" or
>> "Ten Little Indians" is a good way for a community theater to make
>> some money.
>
>The theatre in England at which it is shown is not a community theatre -
>it is in the centre of London.
Yes. I know. And although I have actually performed in a production
of "The Mousetrap", I have been tempted to see it when I am in
London. And I already know whodunnit.
The point here is that Christie is enormously popular, and just
having her name listed as author will guarantee a substantial
minimum audience.
Followups reset.
John Gonzalez and/or Yvette Zaepfel
starring Michael Caine, Christopher Reeve, and Dyan Cannon. There's a
line in a play I worked on where an actor states he's "done them all.
Mousetrap, Deathtrap, Deathmouse..."
Ali...@bismuth.demon.co.uk wrote:
> This is going by what I can remember of a film years ago that I only
> watched once.
>
> I thought that there was a Film Called "The Mousetrap" starred
> Christopher Reeve. (Superman)
>
> Alison.
Ali...@bismuth.demon.co.uk
Ali...@bismuth.demon.co.uk
I think that it is unfair of you to reveal Whodidit, you should have
at least put spoiler in the title.
Alison.
Bruce Rifleman
Alan Pascoe wrote:
I complained because there are many Agatha Christie fans or simply theater fans
who may see the play without having read the story -- for instance I saw the play
a few years before reading the story. (Just a side note, after living in London
and seeing numerous plays, The Mousetrap is still one of my favorites).
I also complained because even if you don't like the play, that's no reason to
spoil the ending for others. I can't imagine how you benefit from that...you are
obviously just trying to get a rise out of people. If you were a true fan of the
theater, you would not reveal the ending. But enough said for me on this subject,
as I have a life to get on with -- and I suggest you get one.
Nicole
Rosemary McLaughlin
> with it.
A play cannot be popular with someONE, period.
To say a play is popular means a LOT of people like it.
>Therefore popularity is not the reason for the success of the play.
If you hear a lot of people saying they liked a given play, you're more
likely to go. Good word-of-mouth translates, often, into increased
popularity
and commercial success, regardless of a play's merits.
> > >I don't agree. The way this play is being marketed is basically a
> > >confidence trick, and I feel fully justified in exposing it.
Oh, get in line.
Do you really think that you are the first to consider this play
a little less ethereal than Shakespeare? or Chekhov? or O'Neill?
It is what it is.
The audiences could be home watching the BBC and instead they're
supporting live theater. It may not be to your taste. Nor to mine.
But it is to someone's.
Maybe it's time to consider what the great & ridiculously prolific
playwright, Lope de Vega said during the Golden Age of Spanish drama:
"There is one rule in playwriting: Please the audience."
--Rosemary McLaughlin
dav...@my-dejanews.com
pretty good movie, though.
Davvy
In article <36482c60...@news.demon.co.uk>,
--
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-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
lindas...@my-dejanews.com
cause it had been running so long! :)
Thanks for the memories! :)
In article <3645BF...@clara.co.uk>,
apa...@clara.co.uk wrote:
> For about forty years now "The Mousetrap" has been running continuously
> in London. It is based on a story by Agatha Christie. You might think
> that this success has been due to the quality of the play. You would be
> wrong. I have seen many screen and film adaptations of Agatha Christie
> and I have seen "The Mousetrap". It is not amongst her best. On the
> contrary, it is the weakest of her work that I have seen. Why then does
> the play run and run? The theatre at which it is shown has a monopoly -
> there is no book , there is no film, and there is no TV adaptation. If
> you are a fan of Agatha Christie, you will want to know the story, but
> you can't do this unless you go to London to see the play. This would
> have been the biggest incentive to see the play in the early years. Now,
> the length of the run is the overriding incentive. Only by breaking this
> run will this confidence trick be brought to an end. There must be many
> good playwrights out there struggling to get their work staged. Why not
> give more of them a chance by now killing off this mediocre play?.
> Agatha Christie fans may find this difficult. The play, like others, is
> a "whodunnit" - you _have_ to know who did it. But I can help you
> overcome this craving:
>
> THE POLICEMAN DID IT!
>
> --
> Alan Pascoe | PGP Key ID: 0xD5B1715B
>
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
Ali...@bismuth.demon.co.uk
>You may be thinking of Deathtrap which was a play made into a movie
>starring Michael Caine, Christopher Reeve, and Dyan Cannon. There's a
>line in a play I worked on where an actor states he's "done them all.
>Mousetrap, Deathtrap, Deathmouse..."
Thanks for clearing that one up for me as my memory isn`t as good as
it used to be............
Alison.
Adele Sanilitro
<rmcl...@erols.com> wrote:
Ciao from Italy!
Adele Sacchettini
Florence To&Fro
http://florencetofro.home.ml.org
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