By Mark S. Kenna
Sept. 16, 2013. Over the weekend guests of the Green Park Inn enjoyed tracking down suspects and interrogating each other as players in a Murder Mystery Weekend production.
The game started Friday evening after check-in when a gunshot rang out at the cocktail reception, and Blowing Rock Town Council candidate Ray Pickett fell to the ground “dead.”
“I had a really good time, it seemed like a well attended and fun event,” Pickett said. “Another great thing for people to do in Blowing Rock.”
To be active players in the game guests interviewed everyone, narrowed down their suspect lists and met with the detective.
“The best way to be effective and entertaining is for no one to know who the actors are,” Gian Carlo Durland, the detective, said.
“You could be having dinner or drinks with someone and you would have no clue if they’re the killer or victim,” Durland said. “Until of course you get a clue, or they drop dead in front of you.”
Throughout the weekend guests have time to roam about, shop and enjoy free time. But once they get back to the Inn, the game is back on and everyone is ready to go.
“Many people take it way seriously. They’re at the front desk taking pictures of evidence,” Durland said. “They interview everybody. They even follow you to your room.”
At Sunday brunch, the guests turn in their solution on a sheet of paper. The winner, John Dawson and Gina Riggins, received a free two-night stay at the Green Park Inn; however, there were also prizes awarded to the most outlandish solution, known as “boobie prizes.”
“It was a killer of a good time,” Dawson.
Steve Dobbins and Spencer Oruse, cast of the Murder Mystery troupe were the “murderers.”
The staff at The Green Park Inn also enjoyed the Murder Mystery troupe’s presence.
“It was great fun–the murder mystery cast was incredibly professional and knew how to handle every unforeseen twist, turn or comment from the guests,” Lorry Mulhern, general manager of the Green Park Inn, said. “We already have people asking us to do another one in the spring.”
The company, Keith and Margo’s Murder Mystery Dinner, started in the 1980s out of Los Angeles. They now operate in 48 states and Canada and have offices on both the East and West coast. The Los Angeles Times called the duo,”masterminds of the genre.” The company does weekend murder mysteries, Saturday night murder mysteries and produces a murder mystery DVD game.
The next murder mystery show in North Carolina will be Jan. 24-26, 2014, at Graylyn Conference Center in Winston-Salem.
To find out more about the Murder Mystery company and upcoming shown click here
