THE MOUSETRAP
By Agatha Christie
www.MouseTrapOnTour.com
If it keeps going, next year will see the 65th year of productions of Agatha Christie’s ‘whodunnit play’ The Mousetrap. I remember my parents going to London to see it and, as a boy, being left with a babysitter! But I only saw the play myself recently.
It begins with the classic set up. There has been a murder and a group of people are isolated by a snowstorm in a remote bed and breakfast. One of them is the murderer.
Everyone has a motive
As the story unfolds it is clear that anyone of them could be the killer. The description the police have of the suspect would fit any of the characters. Furthermore, they all have motives which come to light as a policeman turns up and begins to investigate. It reminds us that ‘all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3.23). The play’s continuing popularity mirrors the popularity of ‘whodunnits’ in general, whether on TV, in paperbacks or on stage.
Truth and morality matter
They are tales of justice and morality. Their popularity shows that, made in the image of God, men and women are beings with consciences who know deep down that truth and morality matter. That’s interesting in a year in which the hyphenated word ‘post-truth’, has been introduced into our dictionaries.
Keeping the secret
At the end of every performance the audience is sworn to secrecy as to the perpetrator. I will keep that secret.
