The Mousetrap PowerPoint
- 2. The LOCKED ROOM MYSTERY is a sub-genre of detective fiction Typically, a "locked room" in this narrow meaning of the phrase is a room in which a murder is committed. There are a limited number of suspects, some of them possibly even with a watertight alibi. The COZY MYSTERY is a sub-genre of detective fiction A murder is committed amongst a small group of people who would normally seem unlikely people to be involved in a crime.
- 3. History for The Mousetrap Christie created a half-hour radio play, Three Blind Mice, to help celebrate the 80 th birthday of Queen Mary in 1947 . The play originated from the 1945 case involving the death of a boy, Dennis O'Neill, who died while he was in foster care.
- 4. Christie’s story did so well on the radio that she decided to turn it into a stage play called The Mousetrap . Christie wrote fifteen plays. The Mousetrap opened in London’s West End in November of 1952 . The Mousetrap set a world record for the longest continuous run of performances.
- 5. According to her contract, The Mousetrap cannot be made into a film until the play has been closed for at least six months. The play has been running continuously for over 50 years . When she wrote the play, Christie gave the rights to her grandson Mathew Prichard as a birthday present. Prichard currently owns the rights to all of her works.
- 6. Molly and Giles Ralston , who are celebrating their first wedding anniversary, open a guest house just after the war and are hosts to a strange collection of characters. Among the guests who arrive during a blinding snow storm are … Christopher Wren , a young architect who gets on Giles's nerves while flirting with Molly. Mrs. Boyle is a sour ex workhouse matron who has more than a touch of cruelty about her. Major Metcalf is the strong silent type and it’s his silence that makes him mysterious. Miss Casewell is the slightly masculine type who has a lot of fun at Mrs. Boyle’s expense. Mr. Paravicini , whose car broke down in the storm was not expected, and can thoroughly explain his mysterious appearance. Sgt. Trotter is the last to arrive and is there to investigate a murder that took place earlier in London.
- 7. Monkswell Manor Guest House
- 9. Scotland Yard New Scotland Yard or Scotland Yard , informally known as The Yard , is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service.
- 10. An Aga An Aga is a battleship stove Literally weighing a ton, fueled by coke (a fuel used in a blast furnace) superbly insulated and extremely efficient, they were ideal for the larger kitchen, especially in farmhouses, in which lots of cooking jobs had to be carried out throughout the day. To stoke the aga means to feed fuel to and tend the fire.
- 11. Sir Christopher Wren (the real one) October 20, 1632 – February 25, 1723) He was a 17th century English designer, astronomer, geometer, and the greatest English architect of his time. Wren designed 53 London churches, including St Paul's Cathedral, as well as many secular buildings of note. He was knighted in 1673.