Flanked by a red curtain actors rehearse onstage at the Alcazar Theatre. The set post-World War II era props and furniture.
Actors rehearse for 'The Mousetrap' that runs two weekends, Sept. 22-through Oct. 1.

Agatha Christie’s theatrical classic “The Mousetrap” will open at the Alcazar Theatre in Carpinteria on Sept. 22 and run two weekends through Oct. 1.

Christie, best known for her mystery novels, has written more than 20 plays including “The Mousetrap,” which opened in London’s West End in 1952. It holds the record of being the longest-running play in the history of western theater.

The local production, under the direction of Jim Sirianni, has a cast of eight. Five of them — Emily Vallance, Louis John, Chad Curtis Wood, Jonathan Malindine and Will Muse — are new to the Alcazar stage and hail from Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

Actors Sam Szpor, Emma-Jane Huerta and Sharon Reinhold have all appeared in Alcazar productions this past season.

“Some plot twists and intriguing characters in ‘The Mousetrap’ could easily fit into a modern-day script,” Siranni said. “At the same time, ‘The Mousetrap’ is a wonderful journey to a bygone era that reminds us of simpler times and gives us a glimpse into what life might have been like post-World War II.”

”The Mousetrap” is a classic whodunit set in an old English country home, where seven strangers find themselves stranded during a dangerous blizzard. Their situation becomes more complicated when they discover a ruthless murderer among them.

A police detective arrives to investigate, but things quickly spiral out of control, and one of the guests is found dead. This leads to an intense inquiry into the pasts of each character to uncover the truth.

Showtimes are 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Sundays. Buy tickets online at thealcazar.org or at the box office 30 minutes before the show. General admission tickets are $20; seniors and students, $15.

The Alcazar Theatre was established on April 27, 1928 by owner Henry J. Muller, who invested $50,000 to build it. Builder Alex C. D’Alfonso said it was “As strong and sturdy as the Rock of Gibraltar.”

Over the following 95 years, the Alcazar changed ownership and names, including the Ritz, the Del Mar, the Tradewinds, and in 2010 to Plaza Theater, managed by Metropolitan Theatres.

In 2017, the Plaza Playhouse Theater officially returned to its original namesake the Alcazar Theatre.

The nonprofit organization behind the theater, Carpinteria Community Theatre Inc. continues to its original purpose as a hub of arts and entertainment, hosting theater, music, comedy, and film for the Carpinteria Valley and Santa Barbara County.