Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” hits the Pendragon Theatre stage tonight and runs throughout Saranac Lake Winter Carnival until Feb. 9. The whodunit is the longest-running play in the world since it’s premier in London in 1952.

Director Sarah Norris said the play is perfect during Winter Carnival, since it takes place during a blizzard.

On stage, at Pendragon, characters duck in and out of rooms titled “Library,” “Drawing Room” or “Courtyard.” If this seems reminiscent of the board game “Clue” that’s not a mistake. Although “The Mousetrap” and “Clue” were created separately, around the same time, the creator of “Clue,” Anthony Pratt, named Christie’s work as an inspiration for the game.

The game in turn inspired Norris and set designer Danielle Pecchioli. The doorways are labeled. The checkered tile floor at center stage resembles a chess board. Some of the music is pulled from the 1985 game-inspired movie “Clue.” Saranac Laker and retired stuntwoman Leslie Hoffman played a dead body in “Clue,” and got dropped on her head.

Kleo Mitrokostas as Miss Casewell eavesdrops as she rehearses Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” at Pendragon Theatre on Tuesday. The play opens tonight and runs through Winter Carnival. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Norris loves directing a murder mystery.

“It’s a little melodramatic, so you have to find the balance of making it feel real,” she said.

The play has a cast of great actors from here and afar, she said, and they’ll all be participating in Carnival events. They’re finding the “sweet spot” of pulling everyone into the stakes of the story — their lives are on the line — while having fun with the characters and the juicy storyline. The actors stalk around the main sitting room, lobbing suspicions and spilling secrets, until suddenly the lights go dark. And then there’s a scream.

The audience gets to play along, trying to crack the case for themselves before the killer strikes again.

Tickets cost $28 if purchased before Feb. 1 and cost $35 starting on Feb. 1. Tickets for people 18 years old and younger are $20.

Rachel Kemp as Mollie Ralston thinks about murdered children as she rehearses Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” at Pendragon Theatre on Tuesday. The play opens tonight and runs through Winter Carnival. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Norris said they built the play’s schedule around Carnival events.

The play opens tonight for its first showing at 7 p.m. There are showings on Jan. 31 at 7 p.m., Feb. 1 at 2 p.m., Feb. 2 at 5 p.m., Feb. 4 at 7 p.m., Feb. 6 at 7 p.m., Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. and Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. “The Mousetrap” is rated PG, appropriate for audiences 8 years old and up.

Max Reinhardsen as Christopher Wren messes with Amy Coddington-Burnett as Mrs. Boyle as they rehearse Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” at Pendragon Theatre on Tuesday. The play opens tonight and runs through Winter Carnival. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Dylan Duffy, left, has a sudden realization as Giles Ralston and Michael Brewer as Detective Sergeant Trotter inspects the manor as they rehearse Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” at Pendragon Theatre on Tuesday. The play opens tonight and runs through Winter Carnival. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Amy Coddington-Burnett as Mrs. Boyle and Rachel Kemp as Mollie Ralston rehearse Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” at Pendragon Theatre on Tuesday. The play opens tonight and runs through Winter Carnival. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

The cast of Pendragon Theatre’s “The Mousetrap” rehearse the whodunit on Tuesday. The play opens tonight and runs through Winter Carnival. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)