Book Club

Christie's Plays

Agatha Christie wrote over a dozen plays, the most famous of which is The Mousetrap - the longest running play in the world. Here you can discuss each play in detail.

Warning: These discussions may contain spoilers!

And Then There Were None (play)

Moderator1 21 Sep 09 at 3:05 p.m. GMT

Ten people are invited to an isolated island off the coast of Devon. They don’t know each other or, for that matter, their absent host and hostess. However, one by one they are being murdered. If no-one can get off the island it must be assumed that no-one can get on. Therefore, the murderer must be one of them. As the numbers left alive count down, the tension is racked up.

This is one of Christie’s best known stories and is often performed by amateur groups. It has often been imitated but has it been bettered?  The ending of the play is quite different to that of the book but was Christie right to spare the audience from the book’s ending? Which do you think is better?

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15 replies

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jane_poirot 27 Sep 09 at 4 a.m. GMT

I think the play's ending is just as good as the book's ending; perhaps not on the same masterpiece level, but still very good.

shaunabbkevrye 27 Sep 09 at 7:26 p.m. GMT

I saw the play for the first time when I was 12. I was hooked on Christie. I think that the ending in the book would be hard to adapt for the stage.  In terms of sets, costumes and cast.  I like the ending for the play a bit better, because I think I am too romantic.  Its one of the reasons why Christie has always been my favorite mystery writers; she always adds love and a happy ending to her stories about murder and  death. 

Frndorfoe 28 Sep 09 at 6:54 p.m. GMT

I have not read And Then There Were None as a novel, only as a play, so all I can say is this I LOVE it as a play. In fact it is my favorite AC play. So what if the play's ending is happy? I like happy endings, maybe not all the time, but sometimes. A little happiness never hurt anyone, you know.

jane_poirot 29 Sep 09 at 1:09 a.m. GMT

Wow, just when I thought I was the only one who liked the play's ending!  Nearly every post about the play I've read in the past had something negative to say about it, so I'm pleasantly surprised. I mean, don't get me wrong; I liked the book's ending, too, because it was so unexpected, but I also liked the play's ending. And yes, I admit it--I am a hopeless romantic, which is the main reason I liked this ending (to be vague enough not to spoil anyone).

mtrakas 18 Jan 10 at 1:53 p.m. GMT

CODA Presents: And Then There Were None

The Ashcroft Theatre, Fairfield Halls, Croydon

Thursday 18th to Saturday 20th March, 2010

Evening performances 7.45pm

Matinee Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm

Tickets available now from Fairfield Box Office

020-8688 9291 or on-line at www.fairfield.co.uk

atu_gelovanii 22 Jan 10 at 10:23 a.m. GMT

and then there were none is the best novel of agatha christie ! i like it very much ! and at last when you understood who is murderer its shock :O !

Antoniosgubba 09 Mar 10 at 9:44 a.m. GMT

I understand that the CODA production of ATTWN promises to be outstanding. The advance word is that the show will be well worth a look.

mtrakas

CODA Presents: And Then There Were None

The Ashcroft Theatre, Fairfield Halls, Croydon

Thursday 18th to Saturday 20th March, 2010

Evening performances 7.45pm

Matinee Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm

Tickets available now from Fairfield Box Office

020-8688 9291 or on-line at www.fairfield.co.uk

AndreaWilkins 09 Mar 10 at 10:43 a.m. GMT

I read the book when i was on holiday last year and loved every minute of it - i certainly didn't expect the ending!! but how else could it have ended, absolutely fantastic. I would LOVE to see the play, i enjoy going to the theatre but so far haven't seen any AC plays

Has anyone seen The Mouse Trap??

SamD 09 Sep 10 at 1:22 a.m. GMT

I first read the book was when I was on a camping trip when I was ten. I saw the play when I was twelve and I loved it. The characters the plot the set the actors it was just perfect and the ending was shure alot better than the origonal.

missjay 20 Sep 10 at 11:29 a.m. GMT

I was wondering if anyone knew where I could source this play? I am hoping to put on an AC at my school. If anyone has a better suggestions for an AC play (need a large cast), please do let me know. Many thanks

GKCfan 20 Sep 10 at 1:48 p.m. GMT

Where are you?  In the U.S., there's an anthology- The Mousetrap and Other Plays- it's in there.  You can also contact Samuel French.

LittleMissMurder 10 Mar 11 at 3:17 a.m. GMT

I have not yet read ATTWN, I have seen the movie multiple times and love it (excuse the pun) to death! I am too a hopeless romantic, (but really aren't we all?) so I adored the ending. It was just what the plot needed. The entire show I found myself hoping that kind of thing would happen between them. I am about to read the book for a novel at my school. I have been waiting two years for this so I am very excited and have high hopes and great expectations. I have read other Christies and look forward to this one! I will get back to you once I have read the book! I wish I could see the play. I am an actress myself, and would love to be in a production of ATTWN! AC forever!

                                      -LittleMissMurder 

NightRayDuck 20 Mar 11 at 3:01 a.m. GMT

about the different endings, I take the same view as

shaunabbkevrye on 27 Sep 2009. It would have been difficult to put the novel ending on a live stage, and also rather tiresome for the audience, and possibly the younger members of the audience might even be frightened - I mean, 12-yr-old kid, old enough to know good and evil, not quite old enough to spot malice and pretense, seeing all the characters dead, and a rather trustworthy-looking character turning out to be a murderer and NO OTHER CHARACTERS HAD UNRAVELED THE PLOT. That, I think, would have been quite dispiriting for a live audience.

NightRayDuck 20 Mar 11 at 3:04 a.m. GMT

LittleMissMurder - is the movie the one made in the 1950s? I have seen it only recently, and I have to say, I like that ending even better than the ending in the play. The "happy ending" in the play occurs, sort of, by complete accident.

murder_is_easy123 28 Oct 11 at 5:11 p.m. GMT

I was in this play in March.  It was not as good as it could have been, as only teenage boys signed up for it, so three characters had to be cross-dressers (one of whom was me)

The local amateur dramatic society in my town are performing this at Christmas, and I can't wait!