The longest running show in the history of British theatre comes to Leeds next week on its Diamond Anniversary Tour, and on the eve of its arrival Elizabeth Holdsworth (@MargotBarbara) spoke with cast member Bob Saul about the enduring popularity of Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’ …
So, The Mousetrap is sixty! What do you think is the secret to its success?
I think that people love a ‘whodunnit’ – and want to come along to a show that guarantees a couple of hours of good quality entertainment. People know what they’re getting with Agatha Christie. A great story, with a twist that keeps you guessing right to the end.
You’ve played the pivotal role of Sgt Trotter before, in the West End. What will you bring to this performance?
It’s been three years since I played the role before – long enough for me to have forgotten it, which makes it feel really fresh again and I have a lot more experience and stage craft so it’s been good to come back and have another crack at the role. It’s a really demanding role and one that I’m thoroughly enjoying.
The cast I’m working with in this show give complete concentration to each and every performance. It’s tempting when performing something as well-known as The Mousetrap to relax too much into it, but they’re such a professional bunch, that doesn’t happen. In fact, I’m the least experienced member of the cast!
I love that every time it’s performed, the audience are asked not to tell anyone who the murderer is. In an age of information overload, that feels quite special.
Yes, it is. I mean, it would be easy for people to just search online to find it out, but, generally speaking, people don’t. When you’re in the play, you just don’t tell anyone, and even afterwards, the cast tend to keep it a secret. It’s like being a member of a secret club!
People come to the play expecting to hear the speech at the end asking them to keep the secret, and they love to hear it.
Agatha Christie famously only allowed the play to be performed outside of London once a year, and now it’s on a national tour. What do you think she’d make of that?
I think she’d be fine about it! I think the play deserves a tour – and the theatres are full every night, we’re putting on more performances and getting great responses. After sixty years, it’s a celebration. The dynamics of the cast are different to the West End, we have a different director and even the stage set is new. The play is popular all over the world. I’ve performed it in Shanghai, which was an interesting experience. We had a translation running so the audience responses were constantly delayed by a few minutes!
If you were going to persuade the people of Leeds to come to The Grand next week to see The Mousetrap, how would you sum it up?
I think it has everything; drama, entertainment, the occasional bit of farce and enduring appeal. If you’re looking for a couple of hours’ worth of fun, then it’s the perfect way to spend an evening!
So, if you want to find out the ending then you can book tickets for The Mousetrap at Leeds Grand Theatre, March 11 – 16. online at Leeds Grand Theatre or by calling the Box Office on 0844 0848 2700.