When Agatha Christie wrote her famous play The Mousetrap, she had little faith it would have a life beyond the initial 14-month run in 1952.
But on Thursday, May 28, when The Dubai-based theatre group Backstage presents its two-hour version of the popular murder-mystery at Dubai Community Theatre & Arts Centre, it will also act as a testament of why the play continues to stand the test of time.
The story follows eight characters who are trapped in an ancient manor-turned-guesthouse and come under suspicion for murder.
"The Mousetrap doesn't come across as a cliché ... And even though it has been running for so long, the interest in this hasn't died down," says Priyanka Johri, the director.
Christie’s play debuted in October 1952 at Theatre Royal in Nottingham, moved to London’s Ambassadors Theatre the following month and then to St Martin’s Theatre. After more than 25,000 performances, it continues to be staged there to full houses.
The play was one of the first the 27-year-old Johri watched, as a child, and she has been fascinated ever since.
“I love Agatha Christie and my first play with Backstage was one of her works, as well,” says Johri.
"With The Mousetrap, I've stayed true to the script, but worked a lot on the character's backstories ... The characters cannot reveal much about themselves during the play, but at the same time, they have this past and depth that governs the way they act in that situation. So it has to be a perfect balance."
Staying true to the original era, the set is plastered with rustic wallpaper and decorated with props, including radiators, a transistor, wooden pair of skies – all designed, Johri explains, to “take you back in time”.
• Backstage’s The Mousetrap will be staged from Thursday, May 28, until Saturday, May 30, at Ductac – Mall of the Emirates. Tickets are priced at Dh100 and can be booked on www.ductac.org
aahmed@thenational.ae
