Summer reading is in full swing on sunny beaches and cool back porches. Cozy mysteries and whodunnits are usually among the popular choices for readers hungry for a puzzling story to work out. The undisputed ruler of the murder mystery remains Dame Agatha Christie (1890–1976), whose 66 detective novels and 14 short stories have kept readers turning pages for more than a century. Christie probably could not have predicted the landmark nature of her 1952 stage play, The Mousetrap. Famously, the two-act murder mystery play has been running in London’s West End since it opened — a run of 74 years, and counting! Christie’s play could also be seen as a prototype of the small-cast, isolated country-house murder story that has been used, reused, and even spoofed for decades. Plays like An Inspector Calls, Sleuth, and Deathtrap all owe their DNA to The Mousetrap. Motion pictures such as Murder by Death and Clue took Christie’s plot devices to create delicious comedic farces. (Front row:) Sara Dabney Tisdale, Kathy Halenda, and Jacob Cole; (back row) Ben Ribler, John Hollinger, Brent Deekens, Kevin Cleary, and Mia Gomez Montero in ‘The Mousetrap.’ Photo by Fred Watkins Photography. Christie’s original stage stalwart brings on the snowbound mystery of The Mousetrap at the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts now through August 23. Audiences can enjoy the puzzling plot — along with dinner should they choose — and they will be urged to maintain the play’s secrets at every performance, just as West End audiences have for more than seven decades.  Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Patrick A’Hearn, Riverside Center has not shied away from sprinkling plays among their usual seasons of musical productions. Driving Miss Daisy, Steel Magnolias, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? have graced their stage in Stafford County over the recent seasons. Directed with precision and a keen eye on brisk pacing and style by Andrew Foote, The Mousetrap joins these other productions, offering thrilling results with this venerable thriller. As the audience takes their seats, the sign onstage heralds the location, Monkswell Manor, and the set design by Frank Foster provides the atmosphere for the suspects to gather. The simmering fireplace, stone and wood paneling, and a large picture window — which is pivotal to the action of the play — seem homey and inviting. Enhancing the manor house setting is the evocative lighting design by Michael Jarrett. Monkswell is owned by the relatively newlywed couple, Mollie and Giles Ralston. They are trying to make a success out of their new venture, having just opened an inn in the stately home they have purchased. New to the innkeeper game, they are nervous and eager. Clearly in love, both husband and wife harbor tiny secrets that will only be revealed after the murderer is apprehended. Mia Gomez Montero and Kevin Cleary portray the loving host couple. The actors have an easy chemistry together, which both helps solidify their marital status and adds to the tension when suspicions abound later in the play. TOP: Mia Gomez Montero and Jacob Cole in ‘The Mousetrap’; ABOVE: Set design by Frank Foster, lighting design by Michael Jarett. Photos by Fred Watkins Photography. Adding to the suspicions and intrigue is the cast of colorful suspects, a Christie staple, and The Mousetrap has five to offer up. Jacob Cole enters Monkswell Manor with panache and no small amount of flourish as the outgoing Christopher Wren. As the staid and matronly Mrs. Boyle, Kathy Halenda brings a fussy and difficult-to-please energy to the stage. As the more down-to-earth Major Metcalf, John Hollinger emphasizes the inquisitive nature of a man who may be harboring secrets of his own. Sara Dabney Tisdale is the brusque and strong-willed Miss Casewell. The last suspect to arrive is Sr. Paravicini, with a thick accent and a huge personality provided by the memorable Brent Deekens. As the array of suspects who all just happen to converge as the first set of guests for the Ralstons, these actors understand their assignment and keep the audience guessing until the very end as to who the murderer really is.  Speaking of murder, one Christie touch that gets things rolling quickly is the first offstage murder, reported via the wireless (the radio). This crime sets up the high stakes when it is revealed the murderer may have reason to be in the area of Monkswell Manor, and when a heavy snowstorm traps everyone inside the mansion, the stakes become deadly. What would a murder mystery be without the one who arrives to gather the suspects and deduce the solution? Sgt. Trotter enters the scene via the picture window once everyone is duly in place. Trotter is young but a savvy sleuth, arriving just in time to help unravel the puzzling murder and figure out how several of the guests are connected. Ben Ribler plays Trotter as a wide-eyed and eager detective, keeping everyone guessing what he knows and how the mystery will play out. Saying much more about motives and story points might spoil the long-held secrets of The Mousetrap, so you will have to experience it for yourself if you want more on who knew who and how the entire murder plot is wrapped up, as well as what secrets Mr. and Mrs. Ralston were harboring. The actors were costumed with period finery by Erin Welsh, complete with stylish wigs and hair designed by Bethany Cheek. The atmospheric soundscape, complete with vintage radio reports and musical interludes, was designed by Justice Craig. It is very possible that sometime over the last several decades, a reader of this review would have read or seen a production of The Mousetrap. If you are an Agatha Christie fan or just a fan of a well-written murder mystery, please don’t spoil it for any family and friends who may not know the solution. What better way to honor the “Queen of Crime” (her trademarked nickname) and one of the world’s top-selling authors than by attending Riverside Center’s The Mousetrap and keeping the secrets? Running Time: Two hours and 30 minutes with a 20-minute intermission. The Mousetrap plays through August 23, 2026, at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, 95 Riverside Parkway, Fredericksburg, VA. Tickets ($65–$82) are available online or through the box office at 540-370-4300, open from 10 am to 6 pm, Mon.-Wed.; 10 am to 7:30 pm, Thu.-Fri; 12 pm to 7:30 pm, Sat.; 12 pm to 3 pm, Sun. Discounted senior group rates are available (for details, click here). Evening performances start at 7:30 pm with dinner service beginning at 5:30 pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Matinee performances start at 1:30 pm with meal service beginning at 11:30 am on Wednesday and 3:00 pm on Sunday with meal service beginning at 1:00 pm. Adult – $67Senior (65+ years) – $62Military (limit 4 per show, per account with ID) – $62Child (3-17 years) – $55Show tickets purchased online incur an additional $5 per-ticket convenience feeRush – $35 – available for same day, must mention RUSH to get the discount, no online sales, no adding dinnerChildren (3-17) Show Only – $55There will be a $5.00 online processing fee added per ticket. The program for The Mousetrap is online here. ...read more read less