Twist in the tale as The Mousetrap visits Derry

It's thrilled audiences for 64 years and recently celebrated its 26,000th performance.
Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen and the cast of The Mousetrap celebrating the 26,000 performance. Picture: Dave Wise.Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen and the cast of The Mousetrap celebrating the 26,000 performance. Picture: Dave Wise.
Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen and the cast of The Mousetrap celebrating the 26,000 performance. Picture: Dave Wise.

But according to actor Gregory Cox, Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap still has plenty of surprises up its sleeve.

Arriving in Derry for a six night run on November 21 at the Millennium Forum, the Mousetrap is a murder mystery play with a killer twist that the audience are asked to keep a secret long after they’ve left the theatre.

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Opening in the West End of London in 1952, the Mousetrap has been running continuously since then making it the longest ever run of any play in history.

“It’s been around since 1952 but the Mousetrap is as fresh as ever,” said Gregory Cox, who plays Mr Paravicini.

“It’s such a great play on all sorts of levels. I’ve been involved for quite a while on the West End and on tour. And I never get tired of doing it.”

The Mousetrap is a classic whodunnit. The play is set in a guest house cut off by snow.

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But to their horror, the guests in the house discover there is a murderer in their midst.

“We’ve been staggered by the response to the play,” said Gregory, “as we’ve travelled round we’ve played to virtually full houses, even in huge theatres such as Liverpool.”

And for Gregory this is a play that has universal appeal and he says there shouldn’t be any snobbery about a Christie play.

“The Mousetrap is a really accessible and open play, that has universal appeal” he said. “Even if you’ve seen it before, you’ll get something different from it this time.”

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The cast includes Anna Andresen (Mollie Ralston), Nick Barclay (Giles Ralston), Tony Boncza (Major Metcalf), Lewis Collier (Sgt Trotter), Gregory Cox (Mr Paravicini), Amy Downham (Miss Casewell) and Oliver Gully (Christopher Wren) and Sarah Whitlock (Mrs Boyle).

Tickets available from the box office on 7126445 or www.millenniumforum.co.uk

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