You provide the venue and the menu, and we provide the entertainment from cocktails to curtain call, with a healthy dose of comedy and intrigue in between.
The zany characters of It's A Mystery love to play with the audience, so we take the opportunity to interact with your group during a cocktail half hour prior to the show. We'll arrive in character and let everyone get a glimpse of what's to come. It's A Mystery will provide you with program information so that you can tailor make a program that is perfect for your group. This will help them get to know the backgrounds of the characters and allow them to start speculating about who will do what to whom.
After your group has been seated, salads will be set and Act 1 begins. (We recommend that if you have a group larger than fifty, you pre-set salads). Act 1 is made up of a series of vignettes between two to three characters who flirt, argue and ridicule their way through pertinent clues revealing the relationships and backgrounds that will lead to ... dah, dah, dah ... the end of the road for one of the characters. Act 1 takes approximately 25 minutes.
The Stiff is removed and so are the salad plates. Next up is the presentation of the Main Course by the wait staff.
Act 2 begins when the remaining five suspects enter and are seated. The Detective takes over the investigation and examines the evidence thus far. During the Main Course, more meaty details are uncovered. And then, just when you thought it was safe to check your teeth for bits of green ... dah, dah, dah ... another victim bites the dust. The plot thickens. Act 2 lasts approximately 20 minutes.
Dinner plates are cleared and so is the body. While dessert is being served, The Detective serves up instructions on how each table should form their own detective agency, choose a "chief detective" and formulate questions that will be asked of the remaining suspects. They get 10 minutes to come up with the perfect questions to crack the case.
During Questioning, the remaining suspects are at the mercy of the chief detectives and their posses. Now is your time to try to learn the truth. But remember, someone who will commit murder will most likely lie about it, and other things as well.
The characters are sent back to their holding cell while each detective agency discusses "who dun it and why." The first agency to turn in the most correct answer wins. It's A Mystery will supply the solution sheets, you provide the pre-set writing implements. We allow 10 minutes for this.
You know the end is near when Act 3 begins. This is where we find out who the culprit is and why he/she did the dastardly deeds. This takes about 10 minutes.
After the confession, the cast returns as themselves and announce the winning table. Most clients choose to provide a small prize to the winners.
We are very flexible and can adapt our formula to your specifications. We perform day or night in conjunction with served meals, buffets, or no food service at all.
The show is performed theater-in-the-round style, so we ask that you arrange the room with a central performance area. We will also need five extra chairs tucked around the room.
One wireless lavalier mic will be necessary for groups of 50 - 100. For crowds of 100 or more, a complete sound system including wireless body microphones for all seven cast members must be provided by the client. This insures that everyone in the room can hear the show.
Our shows are rated PG, but the adult oriented subject matter is best suited for adults. After all, murderers and their motives can be pretty ugly.
We can customize our existing shows to include personal references to your group.
Allow two and one half hours (including the reception) for a complete production.