By Sarah Schofield
[1]Westminster United Church’s murder mystery dinner production of Fatal Reunion, got into full swing with the murder of Fritz Charming, played by Adri Boodoosingh on Friday, Feb. 10, 2012. Other members of the play from left to right, Arthur “Squirrel” Knutzioli, Heather Cockerline, Steve MacKinnon, Shawn Legere and Chris Thompson, watch over the lifeless body in shock. The success of the play, written by Sue Demczyna, was evident with the two sold out shows. Proceeds from the fundraiser go towards the church. Photo by Sarah Schofield.
A fake red fingernail, greasy mechanic’s cloth and leftover ring were some of the clues left at the scene of the crime at Friday’s murder mystery dinner at Westminster United Church in Belleville.
The sold-out event, which ran for two nights on Friday and Saturday, was a big success with the audience.
Shirley Mullin, the kitchen manager and Westminster United Church member, said she was pleased with the event’s success.
“We’re sold out. We’re sold out tonight. We served 97 people tonight and we’re serving 100 people tomorrow night.”
The murder mystery is in its second consecutive year. The play, titled Fatale Reunion, was written and produced entirely by Sue Demczyna, who also played one of the lead characters – Tina Stiletto.
The play follows a group of very different personalities who graduated from high school 20 years earlier. As the production progresses and we hear about what Fritz Charming, a cocky, prankster, used to be like years earlier, we learn that each character has a motive to do him harm.
All 10 actors, aside from one, attend the same church and have been working hard to make the play the best it can be.
Actress Debbie Schaap, who plays Jeannie Cash, a free-spirited new age hippie, described just how much work went into the two-night production.
“There’s a lot of energy that goes into the sets, all the props, all the costumes. All the actors were in charge of their own costumes but we had one person who did all the props. Another couple did the sets for us. It’s been a real team effort from the church.”
Mullin said the church group is a unique place to house a production like this.
“Everybody pulls together. Westminster is a community project-driven church. They like doing things together. They always have done the whole time I’ve been associated with the church and when there’s something like this happening, they always support it in space, which is fabulous.”
The hard work on the part of the production team and kitchen staff was evident multiple times throughout the night. In the basement of the church, the recurring colours of black and pink were visible in streamers, tablecloths and serviettes. The basement of the church was transformed into a high school reunion from 1977 with jukeboxes and even an old yearbook with all the play’s characters.
Marilyn Sager, a member of the church who attended the event for the first time, had nothing but good things to say about it.
“My favourite part is the reunion itself and all the characters. It’s amazing the talent that is around.”
Not only was the event a success, but the dinner portion of the night was as well, Sager said.
“I had chicken and fruit. It was good. The ladies in this church are phenomenal cooks.”
No doubt next year’s murder mystery dinner, if held again, will once again be a sold-out, smashing success.