A murder took place earlier this year at Owasco Reformed Church. It was so much fun, they decided to have another one.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
The Owasco Reformed Church's “A Murder on the Grill” murder mystery dinner combines a dramatic tale with plenty of food.
The Owasco Reformed Church's “A Murder on the Grill” murder mystery dinner combines a dramatic tale with plenty of food.
On Saturday, Owasco Reformed Church will hold a murder mystery dinner, “A Murder on the Grill.”
It will be the church's second event like it since February, when it held the western-themed “Honky Tonk Mystery” dinner. The theme for Saturday will be a 1950s picnic, complete with poodle skirts and rock 'n' roll records.
Proceeds from the dinner will go to Owasco Reformed Church's outreach and mission programs. The western dinner raised more than $600, according to organizers.
During the meal, one of the guests winds up dead, and attendees will spend the rest of the night trying to figure out who did it. A number of characters with some connection to the crime will be dispersed throughout the crowd.
Guests will question suspects, find the clues and guess the culprit. Those who guess right will enter a drawing for the door prize.
It's like dinner theater, except the audience is part of the show, said Darlene Cashin, one of the event's organizers.
“The last one was such a great success,” Cashin said. “People were playing detectives, and asking the types of questions detectives would ask.”
Though there is an overall script for the evening, Cashin said much of the action is improvised by the actors, who are all affiliated with the church. The answer to the puzzle is well-guarded, and the actors will not know the murderer's identity ahead of time.
Laurel Auchampaugh, 70, was one of the cast members at the Honky Tonk Mystery dinner. The Owasco resident, who is also in charge of publicity for the dinner, said much of the fun comes from building your character.
“We really get into the role-playing,” Auchampaugh said. “You get to add your own mystique to the character.”
On Saturday, Auchampaugh will be playing a news reporter. She said dinner guests are not required to dress for the 1950s theme, but it is certainly encouraged. When people dress up for the dinner, it adds to the experience, she said.
“When everyone dresses up, the guests can't tell the cast-members from the other guests,” Auchampaugh said.
That confusion, Auchampaugh said, makes the mystery less predictable. Only four people guessed the culprit at February's dinner.
“It was the secret that made the last dinner so successful,” Auchampaugh said. “Everyone was so mixed up, and no one really knew what was going on.”
For those who think the content is a little dark for a typical church activity, Cashin said the point of the event is to let people have a good time for a good cause.
“The object of the dinner is to bring people through your doors and let them know you're there in case they ever need you,” Cashin said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
If you go
What: A Murder on the Grill mystery dinner
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Owasco Reformed Church, 5105 Route 38A
Cost: $15, includes chicken dinner and the show
For details: Call Darlene Cashin at 685-6014 or Shirley Barber at 784-5591
It will be the church's second event like it since February, when it held the western-themed “Honky Tonk Mystery” dinner. The theme for Saturday will be a 1950s picnic, complete with poodle skirts and rock 'n' roll records.
Proceeds from the dinner will go to Owasco Reformed Church's outreach and mission programs. The western dinner raised more than $600, according to organizers.
During the meal, one of the guests winds up dead, and attendees will spend the rest of the night trying to figure out who did it. A number of characters with some connection to the crime will be dispersed throughout the crowd.
Guests will question suspects, find the clues and guess the culprit. Those who guess right will enter a drawing for the door prize.
It's like dinner theater, except the audience is part of the show, said Darlene Cashin, one of the event's organizers.
“The last one was such a great success,” Cashin said. “People were playing detectives, and asking the types of questions detectives would ask.”
Though there is an overall script for the evening, Cashin said much of the action is improvised by the actors, who are all affiliated with the church. The answer to the puzzle is well-guarded, and the actors will not know the murderer's identity ahead of time.
Laurel Auchampaugh, 70, was one of the cast members at the Honky Tonk Mystery dinner. The Owasco resident, who is also in charge of publicity for the dinner, said much of the fun comes from building your character.
“We really get into the role-playing,” Auchampaugh said. “You get to add your own mystique to the character.”
On Saturday, Auchampaugh will be playing a news reporter. She said dinner guests are not required to dress for the 1950s theme, but it is certainly encouraged. When people dress up for the dinner, it adds to the experience, she said.
“When everyone dresses up, the guests can't tell the cast-members from the other guests,” Auchampaugh said.
That confusion, Auchampaugh said, makes the mystery less predictable. Only four people guessed the culprit at February's dinner.
“It was the secret that made the last dinner so successful,” Auchampaugh said. “Everyone was so mixed up, and no one really knew what was going on.”
For those who think the content is a little dark for a typical church activity, Cashin said the point of the event is to let people have a good time for a good cause.
“The object of the dinner is to bring people through your doors and let them know you're there in case they ever need you,” Cashin said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
If you go
What: A Murder on the Grill mystery dinner
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Owasco Reformed Church, 5105 Route 38A
Cost: $15, includes chicken dinner and the show
For details: Call Darlene Cashin at 685-6014 or Shirley Barber at 784-5591
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kcaskey@pacbell.net wrote on Nov 8, 2007 10:09 PM: