The Riverside Woman's Club is throwing open the doors of its century-old clubhouse this month for a two-performance Victorian murder mystery experience that turns guests into detectives. Mystery at Blackwood Manor runs Oct. 17 and 18 at the club's building at 4092 10th St. in downtown Riverside, with an all-female cast leading diners through a tangled web of suspects, secrets and a reading of a dead woman's will.
The production opens as a formal reading of the late Lady Beatrice Blackwood's will, according to a Press Enterprise report on the club's news release. From there, guests are pulled into the Blackwood estate's world of secrets, suspicious relationships and people with something to hide, the report notes. Attendees won't just watch the drama unfold — they'll question suspects, examine information at their tables and compare theories with fellow guests as they try to crack the case before the final reveal.
Eccentric Characters and a Formal Will Reading
The cast list reads like a Victorian parlor mystery come to life: Lady Victoria Blackwood, Amelia Blackwood, Dr. Eleanor Whitmore, Miss Clara Bell, Lady Penelope Fairchild, Madame Celeste Moreau, Detective Beatrice Hawthorne, Mrs. Agatha Finch, Evelyn Rose Blackwood and Margaret Holloway all populate the story, per the same report. Guests are encouraged to dress the part in Victorian, gothic or mysterious attire as they mingle with the eccentric characters throughout the performance.
The event offers two separate sittings. The Saturday, Oct. 17 performance is a dinner show beginning at 6 p.m., while the Sunday, Oct. 18 show is a lunch performance starting at 1 p.m., the report states. Doors open 30 minutes before each performance, and tickets — priced at $50 and inclusive of the meal — are available through Zeffy.
A Clubhouse With More Than a Century of History
The Riverside Woman's Club itself has deep roots in the city. It was founded in 1896 with just 11 members, according to the club's own account on riversidewomansclub.com — though IE Voice has reported the founding date more specifically as Jan. 7, 1896. The club says it has grown to 115 members today and built the clubhouse that still hosts its events in 1922.
That membership growth has translated into sustained community work. The club carries out more than 100 projects each year benefiting people locally and around the world, including support for UCR medical students through its Doctor's Corner project, according to IE Voice. The historic building itself has needed upkeep in recent years — in 2023, the club sought donations to replace its roof, with estimates for the job averaging around $150,000, the Press Enterprise reported at the time.
Not the Only Manor With a Body
Not the Only Manor With a Body Riverside's production isn't the only Blackwood Manor murder mystery making the rounds this fall. A similarly named show, Murder at Blackwood Manor, was staged by Spotlight Players on Oct. 2 at a venue in Matawan, New Jersey. That version also invited guests to question suspects, gather clues and compare theories, with $30 tickets that included dessert as part of a fundraiser for the group's upcoming productions.
The Riverside Woman's Club has not specified a beneficiary for proceeds from its own production. Those interested in attending Mystery at Blackwood Manor can reach the club by phone at 951-312-5862 or by email at [email protected], or find further details on the club's website.
