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Health & Fitness

The Relay for Life MURDER MYSTERY DINNER Raised $708

Report and Photography by Paula Antolini

See more photos here: picturesbypaula.com


You would think you were at a Broadway play, the actors and show were so magnificent! 

The 80's themed Murder Mystery Dinner to benefit the American Cancer Society (ACS) Relay For Life of Bethel, Danbury, and Redding took place on Saturday, April 12, 2014, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at Capellero's Grove, 42 Vail Road, Bethel, CT.

The Murder Mystery Dinner was organized and run by ACS volunteer Allison Hughes-Randall, who brilliantly arranged every last detail to perfection. 

Nine individuals played the characters needed for the show, all from volunteers on a first-come, first-served basis, and all roles were chosen and assigned by Hughes-Randall, as to who was best suited for the roles.

The actors arrived at the event in costumes suggested by Hughes-Randall and they also received descriptions and objectives about their character a week beforehand.  However, not even the actors would know who the victim was until they arrived, and they would not know who the killer was (including possibly them) until half-way through the game. Characters interacted with each other and also the guests, as they tried to figure out who the killer was.

THE SYNOPSIS

Polly Abdool is hosting a totally tubular album release party for her friend, Debbie Gribson. Debbie Gribson, a top international pop idol, is scheduled to release her new album, Eclectic Youth, along with a new fragrance line of the same name!

HOW THE EVENING PROGRESSED

The characters were given objectives at the beginning each round, such as things they needed to say to another character, a rumor to start, a few hints about their past with other characters, etc.  How they got that information to the dinner guests was up to them, as long as they met those objectives.  The audience was instructed to listen in on others conversations and ask questions. Characters couldn't lie (and possibly change the story), but they didn't have to answer.

The victim did not know he was the victim until the beginning of the second round and the killer didn't know until the beginning of the third. The audience was given pens and papers to write down any facts that they thought would help them figure out the killer.

The evening began with appetizers and a full hour of an 80's trivia game. The first act started with the announcement of each character, who each asked the audience three trivia questions. People were shouting out answers freely and roared with laughter as the game progressed, everyone's competitive nature taking over. The audience members who answered correctly first, won an 80s-inspired pin.

The rest of the cocktail hour involved the characters mingling with the audience and setting it up for the murder, then dinner was served.

The audience was asked to complete an "80's Movie Challenge." Again guests had fun with a competitive nature, in answering the questions.

Shortly after dinner, the murder occurred. The victim knew that after the winners of the "80's Movie Challenge" were chosen, to go into the foyer and be prepped for his murder.

Characters stayed in their roles, and eventually a "body" was found by Nork from Pork. Poor Alligator Dundee was dead.  A note saying that he had been killed, was attached to his chest.  He was covered in white plastic and now appeared as ghost, walking around covered in white, wearing a sign with more hints as to the killer's identity.  His hat held a big clue: he was killed by being bludgeoned by a Rubix cube (which was now on his hat). 

When Alligator Dundee's ghost entered the dinner area it signaling the rest of the characters to meet their post-death objectives.  By now guests were walking around inspecting the "ghost" thoroughly, and asking more questions of other characters, trying to determine who the killer was.   

The third round started with everyone turning in a sheet of paper with their guess as to who the killer was. Once they were turned in, all of the characters lined up in front of the audience. Each asked two more trivia questions and then made a plea for why they weren't the killer.

The last character, Lindy Lauper, however, confessed to the murder and gave a very moving reason for why she did what she did.

After dinner, guests even got a chance to bid on a selection of 80's themed art posters that surrounded the room, auctioned off at the end of the evening, with all proceeds also to benefit the Relay for Life.

The event raised $708 for the cause after expenses.

THE WINNERS

Five of the 52 guests guessed correctly. Their names were put into a hat and Lauper picked the winner who was Mike Darby. He won a trophy and a $50.00 gift card to Stella restaurant (donated by Allison Hughes-Randall).

Marianne Dombroski won the "I Know My 80's Trivia" contest and received a trophy. Melinda Zupaniotis won the "I Know My 80's Music Trivia" contest and won a trophy. Heather Salaga won a trophy for best dressed audience member with a Jem and the Holograms shirt and blinking jelly shoes.

Michael Figgs, who was a last minute fill in for an "actor" won best dressed character. He was dressed as Marty McFly, though he played a Pee-Wee Herman-like character.  He won a trophy and a gift card to Peachwave.

Jason Atkins, the victim Alligator Dundee, won a trophy and gift card to Peachwave for Best Acting.

THE CHARACTERS AND ACTORS

POLLY ABDOOL / American Pop Idol and Choreographer
Played by Sandy Duong

NORK FROM PORK / Eccentric Television Star
Played by Paul Rodgers

TONI OREGANO / American Pop Idol and Choreographer
Played by Sarah LeBlanc

DEBBIE GRIBSON / American Teen Idol
Played by Daniela Enklemann

DANNY SON / Karate Champion
Played by Robert Doyon

LINDY LAUPER / Eccentric Singer & Songwriter
Played by Melissa Barbagallo

ALLIGATOR DUNDEE / Australian Wilderness Expert
Played by Jason Atkins

WEE PEE VERMON / Television & Film Star
Played by Michael Figgs

Allison Hughes-Randall makes everything look easy, but in actuality the fundraiser is a complicated process that takes months to orchestrate and have this event work so smoothly.  This is the second murder mystery dinner Hughes-Randall has done. The first was "Murder at the Juice Joint" in 2011.

Special thanks to Lisa Verbano, Melissa Barbagallo, and Erin O'Shaughnessy who helped with the set up on the night of the event.

"Like" the Bethel Murder Mystery on Facebook for updates on the next one:
https://www.facebook.com/bethelmmdinner

*****

There is still time to form a team for Relay for Life.  The event takes place on June 13-14, 2014 at the Bethel High School track in Bethel, CT.

For more information about Relay for Life:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLCY14NE?pg=entry&fr_id=58779 



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