Tag Archives: murder mysteries

What Would Clara Bow Have Done?

Posted on October 5, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was about to title this one Post Rehearsal Post, but then I thought it might be a Non-Sequitur Thursday, in which case, the title ought not directly reflect the content of the post.  Oh the conundrums of the daily blogger!

I just returned from the first rehearsal for A Trivial Murder, the murder mystery we are putting on to benefit Herkimer County Historical Society.  It will be Saturday, Nov. 3, 6 p.m. (doors open at 5), at the Ilion Moose Lodge.   The cost is $25.00/person. To purchase tickets, stop by the Society, Monday-Friday, 10-4, or send a check in the mail and they’ll send your tickets to you – HCHS, 400 N. Main St., Herkimer, NY 13350. For more information, call 315-866-6413.

I brought my Tablet to take a couple of pictures, but neglected to actually take any.  Instead, I offer a picture of a previous murder mystery for the Historical Society.

That was a fun cast, yes, but this one will be great, too!

Before rehearsal, my friend Kim and I went up to the costume rooms at Ilion Little Theatre (ILT) looking for a 1920’s costume for me for the Ritz and Ragtime at Rutger Park fundraiser on Saturday.  We and a other members of LiFT (Little Falls Theatre Company) are volunteering and must look the part.  I did not want to wear the dress I wore last year (also borrowed from ILT) (and returned); I wanted to wear the dress worn by another character in Rubbed Out at Ruby’s (a murder mystery presented by LiFT last year).

This is what I wore last year; some people thought I looked pretty fine.

 

I was looking for the black dress on the girl sitting next to me who is NOT strangling me.

However, after looking for a while, I just wanted to find ANYTHING that worked.  Eventually I found a black velvet gown that will do. Alas, it does not look like a flapper dress.  Maybe I’m a little too old to be a flapper.  SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!  After rehearsal (which went pretty well), I went home and sought out accessories to make the gown 1920’s ready.

So this is my Non-Sequitur Thursday post.  At least I plugged two upcoming local events, and included a couple of pictures.  I call that respectable.  Happy Thursday, everybody.

Oh crap, I still have to think of a title.

 

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Murder On My Mind

Posted on August 31, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

First a note:  Yesterday when I said I know a guy who I suspect was not as good a writer as he thought himself… That was NOT somebody with whom I am currently acquainted.  It was a guy I knew a long time ago. I never read anything he wrote, either, so he may have been brilliant.  It is still neither here nor there.  On with the blog post.

It is Non-Sequitur Thursday.  I had meant to go running and do a Running Commentary, but I had a headache all day.  I dragged myself through the full day of work rather than burn a half a vacation day.  By the time I got home I felt disinclined to push myself any further (how’s that for a mixed metaphor?  Did I drag or did I push?  I still have a headache).  Just to add a little whining to the mix, because, as I always say, go with your strengths.

“Take me away, Tall, Dark and Gruesome!”

I was looking for a different graphic when I saw this one.  I thought it was appropriately random and on topic.  I was looking for a logo of 20/20 on OWN, which is what we are watching right now.  I always like a little murder and mayhem.

Oh look, I am over 200 words and I have not said much of anything.  I simply must have some Mohawk Valley adventures to write about this weekend.  I’ll start right after work tomorrow.  My headache should be gone by then.  In the meantime, I would like to share a couple more pictures, just in the interests of entertainment.

Here’s a suspicious-looking bunch.

This is the cast from last fall’s murder mystery, A G.R.A.V.E. Murder.  I guess I have murder on my mind (ooh, that would make a good title, although it is not really a non-sequitur.  Still, you can’t have everything).

Now THERE’S a murderess!

This is from the first murder mystery I wrote for the Herkimer County Historical Society, Who Shot JS?  Just to loop back to titles, which I was talking about yesterday and in today’s first paragraph, I did not think up that title.  Titles are hard!

 

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Well! It’s Another Monstrous Monday!

Posted on March 27, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I think Monstrous Monday is going to be a regular thing here, and I think many people can identify with the sentiment.

A common sentiment, am I right?

I know, I KNOW, I must plan ahead and write blog posts in advance.  Well, some readers enjoy my silly posts about not being able to write a post, so there.  Still, you can get too much of a good thing. Isn’t there some saying about going to the well too many times? I try to avoid such cliches, but I do say “well” a lot.

Be that as it may, on with the blog post.  I wrote a very little on the next murder mystery, Spring into Murder, but am not making much progress in finding a complete cast. I thought everybody wanted to act!  Oh well, I guess not everybody (see, there I go with “well” again).

I act, with gestures!

Speaking of everybody wanting to act, here is a picture of me acting up a storm in last summer’s The Tempest with LiFT Theatre Company.  That was one of my big, dramatic scenes. OK, I am big and dramatic in all of my scenes, in real life as well as on stage.  I always say, go with your strengths (I suppose that is a cliche.  Oh well!).

A graphic depiction of how I feel about my continued inability to write a decent blog post.

I swerve into non-sequitur territory with a picture of fake poo.  These were props from one of last year’s murder mysteries, He Laughed Himself to Death.  I have long been an aficionado of fake poo.

And now I am over 250 words, which as regular readers (if any remain) know, I consider respectable.  I return to my Monstrous Monday and, as always, hope for a better blog post tomorrow.

 

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More Murder and Mayhem on Slacker Saturday

Posted on March 25, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’m afraid it is a Slacker Saturday, or maybe a Sick Day Saturday.  As it happens, I did not do much today except for take two naps.  Judge me if you’d like to, I just didn’t feel too good. I feel better now but not up to a real good blog post.  Again, judge me if you must.  The second nap I took made me feel a little better, at least better enough to go to a local watering hole with my lovely husband Steven (a place I hope to write about for Mohawk Valley Living magazine). I have imbibed a trifle, again judge if you must.  Now I am hoping to make a quick post and get back to enjoying the knitting and television watching portion of my Saturday.

It’s not Sunday yet, but any day is a good day for Snapped!

I am taking a look at a Snapped On Demand.  Yes, it is more murder and mayhem for me.  I may have a Dateline on DVR.  We’ll have to check.

On NBC, ID, OWN, it’s all good!

I have the last rehearsal for Secret’s at Suiter House tomorrow.   Come to think of it, I don’t have all the props together.  Luckily rehearsal is not till 4:30.  I also need to get the Clue Sheet together.  That will be helpful for the actors when it comes to talking to the audience before the scripted portion of the performance.  And I must progress more on Spring into Murder.  I have another cast member, although I am concerned about his availability for rehearsals.  Oh, the trials and tribulations!

I have to love every murder mystery cast!

I thought I would end with a cast photo of a previous murder mystery.  I do like to use three graphics, and this is one of the all time great casts.  Happy Saturday, everybody!

 

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I Get Theatrical on Lame Post Friday

Posted on March 24, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I don’t know if I can accurately describe what is going on in this scene.

It is 7:40 p.m. on Lame Post Friday, and as usual, I got nuthin’.  At least, I have things I can write about but lack the oomph to actually do so.  You’ll have that, especially with me.  I thought I would resort to pictures.  My husband, Steven, recently shared the above on Facebook as a Throw Back Thursday, and I thought it was fun.  The scene is from a DVD the Herkimer County Historical Society made for a Celebrity Roast of Assemblyman Marc Butler back in 2015.  It was just after the triumphant run of Roxy by Jack Sherman, the play the society put on at Ilion Little Theatre. I played the title role (I say modestly).   The DVD was all about the the Right to Bare Arms, an issue near and dear to Assemblyman Butler’s heart.  I don’t properly understand politics, but I enjoyed participating in the DVD.

Having downloaded that picture to share, I searched the Historical Society’s Facebook page for further photos.  First I came across a cast shot from the most recent murder mystery we put on for them, A G.R.A.V.E. Murder (perhaps you read a few of my blog posts about it).

G.R.A.V.E. stood for Ghost Retrieval And Verification Enterprises, if I recall that correctly (how embarrassing that I am not sure).

As I continued, I discovered some pictures from Who Shot JS? the first murder mystery we did for the society.  We killed off Jack Sherman, who wrote the play Roxy that I mentioned earlier.

We didn’t take a posed cast shot, but I think this one shows everybody.

Well, now I am approaching 300 words, so I can hit Publish and go back to enjoying my Friday night with a clear conscience.  I hope to see you all on Scattered Saturday, or whatever kind of a Saturday it turns out to be.

 

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Pretty Random, Even for Lame Post Friday

Posted on January 20, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have to get my blog post done in a hurry, because I want to watch Dateline at seven.  It is about a guy who says he is too fat to have committed a murder.  Now if somebody would have said that ABOUT him, he would have been highly offended and probably would have committed a murder just to prove them wrong.

Actually, my throat is a little sore for any real howling.

I was going to put my picture of Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff with Bela saying, “Thank God it’s Friday,” and Boris saying, “You idiot, it’s Tuesday.”  I was going to say, “Ha, ha, it IS Friday.”  Then I remembered the Wolf Man and said, “Hey!”

Did I mention it is Lame Post Friday?  Perhaps you already knew.

I am just going to mention, in the interests of making a random observation, that I have reached the stage of menopause where I am constantly either having a hot flash or feel freezing cold.  Sometimes there is a very brief moment, usually just before or just after a hot flash, when I feel comfortable.  I know, nobody wants to hear my petty complaints about my bodily ills.  Hey, at least I didn’t bitch about the migraine I had earlier.  Oops.

Well, this is a rather useless post.  But perhaps my readers will forgive me if I put in a couple more interesting pictures.

I wouldn’t trust her.

Yesterday I talked a little about the murder mystery I am putting together for the Herkimer County Historical Society. Here is a picture from the one we did last October,  A G.R.A.V.E. Murder.  The hottie in the black dress was a suspect.

Looks like a fun bunch to party with, although one of them is a murderer.

To continue with the murder mystery theme of the day, here is part of the cast of Rubbed Out at Ruby’s, the murder mystery presented by LiFT Theatre Company.  We had been asked to add a little color to a fundraiser for the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica.

Ooh, look at me, I am over 350 words.  That is pretty good for a Lame Friday Post.  Have a lovely beginning of your weekend, everybody.

 

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Murder on Monday

Posted on June 27, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Don’t get your hopes up;  I haven’t murdered anybody.  However, I have Agatha Christie on the mind today.  Why not muse about murder on Mental Meanderings Monday?  Yes, sometimes I just can’t help myself with the alliteration.  Well, here is a title with no alliteration: Death on the Nile.  It is one of my favorite movies.

I could only find a picture of the book. Sorry.

The movie is really a very good adaptation.  The book has a lot more characters and complications.  It is a little too much for me to compare/contrast right now.

OK, I guess it’s time for me to admit, this is another foolish post.  I can’t help it.  I’m tired, I have a headache, it was a difficult weekend.  No matter.  I shall post what I can and drive on.  I’ve been on the Agatha Christie Facebook page looking for pictures to share.  I fear I have not had much luck.

It was originally published under the title of 10 Little [something politically incorrect].

This is another movie adaptation which takes liberties.  I have seen a few versions of this, as well as acting in on on the Ilion Little Theatre stage.  I like it.

Now I must find one more picture to share, because I like to include three.  Hmmm….

Diana Rigg, Maggie Smith and Denis Quilley.

Pay dirt!  Here is a divine photo from Evil Under the Sun, another very good adaptation.  I will write another post discussing what makes a good adaptation and why I like these.  Today, I’m afraid it is beyond me.  I think I’ll go watch a couple of movies.

 

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It’s a Mystery Why I’m So Lame

Posted on May 13, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Frangelica Inferno

When in doubt, insert a picture of a beautiful woman.  Some of you have seen this picture before or seen other pictures of my friend Kim in this very costume.  She wore it for the Doodah Parade in Ilion, NY last summer.  I was so impressed with it (and by her ability to walk the entire parade route in high heels) that I wrote a murder mystery featuring a character who would wear that outfit.  It was Who Shot JS? which was presented to great acclaim as a fundraiser for the Herkimer County Historical Society.  Perhaps you read some of my blog posts about it.

So it’s Lame Post Friday, and I feel myself utterly incapable of making a proper blog post.  Rather than whine any further or take a Blogger’s Sick Day, I am looking through downloaded pictures on my laptop and trying to come up with something that might amuse.

Not to be confused with The Overlook Mansion in The Shining. Um, it was The Overlook in The Shining, wasn’t it?

Speaking of murder mysteries, isn’t this a great setting for one?  This is the Overlook Mansion in Little Falls NY, where LiFT Theatre Company presented Rubbed Out at Ruby’s, also to great acclaim.  Perhaps you read a few of by blog posts about that one.

Just listen to me brag about myself.  Presenting murder mysteries to great acclaim, indeed.  You’d think I was having Toot My Horn Tuesday (a feature I have not utilized often).  It’s Friday!  I can’t think of anything alliterative and egotistical for a Friday!  Oh well, sometimes these things can’t be helped.  I’ll look for one more picture to round things out and call this a post.

Photo by Mark C. Hanna

Perfect!  This is Engaged to be Murdered, which was presented at the Morning Star Methodist Church in Ilion last year.  I do love to write murder mysteries.

I am now over 300 words and have included three pictures.  I call that respectable, especially for Lame Post Friday.  Have a nice weekend, everyone.

 

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One Murder Down, One to Go!

Posted on April 2, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am feeling a combination of the satisfaction from participating in a well-received performance and post-play letdown.  Mostly satisfaction right now, the letdown will kick in more fully tomorrow.  You’ll have that.  After all, if we feared letdown, we would never experience anything good.  That is as philosophical as I will get today.

Members of Ilion Little Theatre performed He Laughed Himself to Death at Morning Star Methodist Church this evening, while they served a delicious roast pork dinner.  Cast members got fed after the performance, for which I was extremely grateful.  I was also grateful that the cast did a superb job, and the audience seemed to really enjoy it.  One of the best aspects of live theatre is the presence of the audience.  In these murder mysteries, we enjoy direct interaction and that is wonderful fun.  I can’t wait to do it again.

And I get to do it again soon!  I will alleviate my post-play letdown by jumping right into working on another murder mystery, which I have mentioned several times already:  Who Shot JS? This one will benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society and be performed at the Herkimer Elks Lodge April 22.  I will have a lot more to say about that one soon.

In the meantime, I am tired.  Solving theatrical murders is hard work!  I did not do a whole heck of a lot earlier today, because I was recruiting my energies.  Perhaps I will do something blogworthy tomorrow.  Or it will be another Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  I don’t care; the applause is still ringing in my years and I am feeling satisfied from the roast pork.  And the church wants us to do another murder mystery next year.  Goody!

 

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Never Give Up! Never Surrender!

Posted on March 24, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Earlier this evening, I wrote the following two paragraphs:

Is this Writer’s Block or a panic attack?

OK, I just wrote that, so it isn’t Writer’s Block, although maybe you could call it Write Anything Good Block.  I have to leave soon for rehearsal for He Laughed Himself to Death, the murder mystery to be presented at Morning Star Methodist Church April 1, and I’m afraid I am letting myself become overwhelmed with what-all I have to do.   How self-dramatizing of me.  Then again, with all the theatre I’m involved in, how can you blame me for being dramatic?  I know, I know, a time and a place.

Then I went to rehearsal, after deciding to get a grip on myself.  In my defense, it has been rather a dreadful week, and it seems to be taking forever.  However, I have plenty of blessing to count, and I must not discount them.  I have a daunting amount of things to get done, but I feel certain that if I can make the right plan, I can get most or all of them done.

As you see, I am in a better mood now.

Rehearsal went very well.  I think He Laughed Himself to Death is going to be a great success.  As we left rehearsal, Charity, the actress playing my daughter, called her father, Jerry, for a ride.  Jerry has agreed to be in Who Shot JS?, the murder mystery benefit for Herkimer County Historical Society April 22. Charity asked me to wait till her father got there, because he had to ask me something.  I thought it must be about rehearsals or rides or something.  When Jerry arrived, he got out of the car carrying a beautiful bouquet.  He thought I could use a little pick me up.

Do I have the sweetest friends or what?

So here is my reminder to myself to not surrender to these little panic attacks.  Just take a deep breath and go to rehearsal.  You just never know when a wonderful friend is going to give you a lovely surprise.  Thank you, Jerry.  And happy Thursday, readers.

I put them in water right away.

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