The podcast covers listener feedback and explores the parentage of a character in 'Cards on the Table'. They discuss allusions, the lives of Molly Myers and Ulrika Hyde, and the sense of community fostered by the podcast. They also delve into Agatha Christie's early plays and her theatrical career, including 'Towards Zero', 'Appointment with Death', and 'The Mousetrap'.
Agatha Christie adapted many of her own works for the stage, drawing inspiration from successful plays like 'And Then There Were None'.
During a productive period in her career, Christie experimented with different genres and styles, adapting her stories and creating innovative plays.
Christie's plays showcased her versatility as a playwright, with variations in titles, murderers' identities, alternate endings, and the introduction of new characters.
Deep dives
Summary of Kemper Donovan's podcast episode on Agatha Christie's plays
Kemper Donovan discusses Agatha Christie's plays in this episode, focusing on the shift in her career as a playwright. Donovan mentions how Christie's experiences with plays like 'And Then There Were None' inspired her to adapt more of her own works for the stage. He also touches on some lesser-known adaptations, such as 'The Stranger' and 'Someone at the Window.' Additionally, Donovan discusses the variations Christie made to her plays, including alternate endings and changes to the identity of the murderer. Overall, the episode provides insights into Christie's journey as a playwright and the evolution of her works for the stage.
The Golden Age of Agatha Christie's Plays
Kemper Donovan explores the 'golden age' of Agatha Christie's plays. He begins by discussing the success of her adaptation of 'And Then There Were None' and the changes she made to the ending to make it more uplifting during wartime. Donovan also highlights other notable plays from this period, such as 'Hidden Horizons,' 'Before the Flood,' and 'Someone at the Window.' He notes that these plays marked a shift in Christie's focus, as she began to adapt her own stories and experiment with different genres and styles. Overall, this period represented a fruitful and innovative period in Christie's career as a playwright.
The Hollow and Other Noteworthy Plays
Kemper Donovan delves into Agatha Christie's play 'The Hollow' and other significant plays from her career. He examines the variations in titles, such as 'The Hollow' also being known as 'The Suspects,' and discusses the adaptations of 'Appointment with Death' and 'Towards Zero.' Donovan highlights the changing identities of murderers, alternate endings, and the introduction of new characters in Christie's plays during this period. Through his analysis, he underscores the influence of Christie's experiences and the versatility showcased in her theatrical works.
Revealing the personal and professional connections behind Agatha Christie's dedications
In this podcast episode, the host explores the dedications made by Agatha Christie in her books, focusing on the Smith family and Molly Myers. Christie's dedications reflect the influence and importance of her relationships with individuals involved in archaeology and Egyptology. The host uncovers the details about Molly Myers, the longtime assistant of Sir Mortimer Wheeler, who had a close relationship with Christie and even lived with her during his visit to the Persian Institute. The episode delves into her personal and professional life, describing her as an elegant and knowledgeable woman who had an observational eye, collecting pictures and creating a memorial for Christie. The episode also discusses the dedication in Star Over Bethlehem, which is linked to an illustrator named Ulrika Hyde who had connections to archaeology. Through these dedications, Christie pays tribute to the people who played significant roles in her life and work.
Exploring Agatha Christie's theatrical career and the critical reception of her plays
This podcast episode provides an overview of Agatha Christie's theatrical career, highlighting the ups and downs she experienced. The host discusses how Christie wrote 30 plays, starting with early experimental works, then moving into her successful Golden Age, where plays like The Hollow, The Mousetrap, Witness for the Prosecution, Spider's Web, and A Daughter's a Daughter gained popularity and critical acclaim. However, as her career progressed, some of her plays, such as Verdict and later works like Fiddler's Five, did not receive the same level of success. The episode emphasizes the difference between Christie's success as a novelist and her mixed reception as a playwright, despite her continued popularity. Overall, the episode provides insights into Christie's journey as a playwright and sheds light on the diverse range of plays she created.
On this episode I talk generally about the stage plays of Agatha Christie (that we know of thus far), but first I do a massive housekeeping segment with messages from all of you. (Letters! We've got letters! We've got stacks and stacks of letters!) It's such a joy to hear from as many of you as I do; please keep in touch.
Visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page here.
You can purchase tickets to the rehearsed (and costumed!) reading of Agatha Christie's version (much like Taylor's version, I imagine) of Towards Zero at the International Agatha Christie Festival here.
You can pre-order my mystery novel, The Busy Body, here.
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit them here for 10% off your first month of therapy.
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