It is indeed really good. Especially if you read this book on a rainy day with overcast sky & all alone in a room its absolutely spine-chilling. (Actually i read this book on such a day & it was absolutely great I mean the feeling!!!!!!!!!)

I saw this recently. Liked it

There is a book? I thought it was only a play. Gonna buy it

I recently watched the play and absolutely loved it! 

The stageplay has been available for a few years now. It always amazes me that the play has been the success that it has been. I guess for the most part, it is the visitors to London that keep the success going and include in their itinery like Big Ben and Madame Tussauds. Now that the play has become a national institution, I cant ever imagine it being taken off. I have only seen the play once and found the first half dragged endlessly. Of course the climax of the play is stunning and I suppose thats what most people remember after leaving the theatre.

I saw an Am Dram version of Spiders WeB and didn't like it, It wasn't because it was because it was Am Dram, I don't think her books make good plays but that is just my opinion. The Mousetrap which I have also seen was brilliant

I think her plays are enjoyed these days more for their camp value. I saw a version of Spiders Web a few years back and the actors hammed the whole thing up - it could have been a panto.

Also the plays are never performed by professional theatre companies anymore, only by amateurs and dinner theatre. I'm afraid the plays have dated more than the books. Most of Christie's theatre work was very successful in its day; the plays had good runs in London and sometimes in New York too.

An exception of course is The Mousetrap in London but I also have the feeling that they will keep it on the boards just for the tourists, like the London Eye, another carbuncle on the landscape. I saw The Mousetrap in London some years ago and you have the feeling that you are part of one big joke. 90 percent of the audience are not regular visitors of any form of theatre but hey, you're in London so what can you do in the evening. There is a kind of conspiracy feeling; you feel a bit embarrassed being there. A very guilty pleasure indeed.

You are right Squatty, the play (Mousetrap) isn't that good and terribly old-fashioned. I was disappointed by the acting, not even the actors took it seriously, lot's of hamming and funny voices. Like that infamous Monty Peyton sketch, it was almost like a parody. When you want thrills and mystery in the theatre, go and see The Woman in Black, it is much more entertaining.

I doubt if even Witness for the Prosecution will keep the audience interested for long today, though it is a much better play than The Mousetrap. Perhaps even better as a short story or a film. Seeing The Mousetrap is like climbing the Eiffel Tower, you do it once in a lifetime.

Marc Anton, I agree about The Woman In Black (excellent in any format- Miss Lemon's finest moment?) but did you see the And Then There Were None productions last year? It did the book ending which was a great surprise and had some class actors like Trevor from EastEnders who I'm ashamed to say I don't know his name as he is brilliant on stage. I think The Mousetrap now needs to be filmed and modernised without losing its essence. Sorry if this is sacreligious but we need to move on.

Aurora, no, I did not see the London stage version of And Then There Were None (I do not live in the UK) but I saw some photos and the promotion on Internet. It looked quite good and unusual. Perhaps these plays work only nowadays with a kind of 'cinematic' interpretation: a bit over-the-top set designs and visual effects (something The Mousetrap is not, that looks more like Panto in the Village Hall.) After all, this is not realistic theatre and works perhaps better with some expressionistic approach. I am not familiar with the film version of The Woman in Black but I did saw the stage version in London and it was one of the few times in the theatre I saw people actually clutching each other from mere fright. Quite incredible, since there are only two actors on stage. A masterpiece of mood and suspence.

The film version of The Woman in Black isn't available on DVD (why I don't know as it would sell like hot cakes) but we have it on VHS (it's that old) and it is so atmosheric and scary. Pauline Moran is brilliant and, like the play, it's terrifying. I think so much could be learnt from the way this has been adapted as, whilst not a lot really seems to happen, it is so tense and suspense filled that it stays with you long after you've finished watching. This year, Spider's Web will be doing the rounds in the UK. Since Bill Kenwright has taken over producing them the plays have been given a more cinematic feel which, though over the top sometimes, works well. We are going to see it in April and I'll post my views then. I hope you get to see Pauline Moran in The Woman In Black one day - it really is a horror classic.

Aurora, the film version of The Woman in Black must be quite different from the stage version because what I saw on stage did not really have a role for a female character. The only two speaking parts were two men, the title character (The Woman) did appear but only for a few seconds and only in silhouette, it was a non-speaking part. The actress (or extra) did not even appear at the curtain bows. So I guess the film version must have added another role since I too saw Pauline Moran in the casting list at IMDB. Can you still speak of a faithful stage adaptation? But it might be scary and mysterious anyway and I hope one day to find it on DVD. Next time I am in London perhaps I will see the show again, it is the second-longest running (no prizes for guessing who is 1st!) and it will still be there. If only for enjoying the reactions of the audience. I saw a Saturday evening performance with a noisy young audience (only the first 10 minutes) but they got drawn into the story very quickly and sure did they jump! But I did saw the film version of Spider’s Web once, it was a bit silly when I recall rightly but it might work on stage if you don’t take this kind of thing seriously. It is very light and not really a thriller, more like a crime-comedy but it might be fun. I hope you have a nice time and please report of the experience.

Does this play ever appear outside of London? I really want to watch it...

No, But When I subscribed to the Set as Advertized on ITV afew years ago The Mouse Trap was one of the plays in the set, what's more the Film rights werew sold when the play first opened on Condition Filming didn't start until after the Run finished, I think there has to be a gaap of 6 Months before shooting is allowed to start and as the play is still running it won't be made yet.

I love this play. It's sooooooooo cleverly written. I LOVE it and think it is well worth watching!!! I like the old fashioned storyline and I thoroughly enjoyed it!!! I recommend it to EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!