THEATER REVIEW:

It makes sense that Agatha Christie, the best-selling English novelist of all time, wrote “The Mousetrap,” the world’s longest-running play.

Since “The Mousetrap” opened in London’s West End Theatre District 1952, it hasn’t closed once, not even in 2000 when the old set was finally replaced with, well, a set that looked like the old one. Now the Glendale Centre Theatre has added a solid production of it to its own 62-year history.

In “The Mousetrap,” newlyweds Mollie and Giles Ralston have just converted ancient and remote Monkswell Manor into a hotel. On their opening weekend, they are snowed in together with four planned guests and one additional traveler, who conveniently ran his car into a nearby snowdrift.

Detective Sergeant Trotter arrives on skis, just before the telephones stop working. Earlier that day in London, a former foster mother responsible for the death years before of a little boy, and the criminal neglect of his brother and sister, has been found murdered. The murderer left a clue, indicating that he (or she?) was headed for Monkswell Manor next.

When one of the guests — the annoying, unlikable Mrs. Boyle — is killed, it’s clear that the murderer has arrived. It’s not easy figuring out who the murderer is, of course, which is another reason why Christie is so wildly popular. Christie points the finger of suspicion at everyone, guests and innkeepers alike. Maybe it’s best to sit back and keep your suspicions to yourself.

Outstanding in a cast full of earnest and likable ensemble performers is Betsy Roth as Mollie Ralston. After a start that seems too bright and cheery, Roth settles into a character that looks and acts more than a little like the amazing Cate Blanchett. Also wonderful is Zoe Bright as the detestable Mrs. Boyle, although having been actually born in England, Bright has an unfair advantage over all the other cast members when it comes to a convincing English accent.

Director George Strattan has done a great job of keeping the action moving while keeping everyone from running into one another on a stage the size of your living room, if you have a very small living room. And costumer Amelia Hayes has done the impossible — made all the actors look good in fashions from the 1950s.

It makes sense that a play as intelligent and entertaining as “The Mousetrap” is still running. Contractually, the movie rights to “The Mousetrap” cannot be sold until the current London production has been closed for at least six months. So, if you don’t want to wait for what may be years, until someday when the play closes in the West End, the current production in Glendale is your next best bet.

 MARY BURKIN of Burbank is an actress, playwright and Glendale lawyer.