Tag Archives: murder mystery

Trying for a Smile on Throwback Thursdsy

How about a nice Throwback Thursday post?  I hope I do not use pictures I have used too recently, but they will be pictures I have used before.  And there is a good chance I will say the same things about them.  Maybe I can think of something new.  Let’s see.

One of the all time greatest casts I have worked with!

I went back to March 2017 and found this gem.  It is the cast of Leading Ladies, the play I directed for Ilion Little Theatre in the spring of 2016.  Perhaps you read a few of my blog posts about it.  I SO look forward to getting together with my theatre friends again!

There’s trouble at the speakeasy!

This picture was also in March 2017, and is also from a wonderful theatrical experience, Rubbed Out At Ruby’s, an interactive murder mystery I wrote.  We were scheduled to present it again in April as  fundraiser for RCIL, but, alas, it has been postponed.

At least he looks relaxed!

This was the first picture I noticed, of our much missed late pooch, Spunky.  I wasn’t going to use it, because I thought it would make me feel too sad.  Then thinking about theatre experiences past and not knowing when I will have more…

Come, come, this will never do.  I do not mean to make a blog post purely to moan and groan about how depressed I feel!  That won’t help anybody.  Let me see what is in March 2018.

Yikes!

Here’s some theatrics that may bring a smile!  We were making a DVD on the Right to Bare Arms, for the Herkimer County Historical Society to use at a Celebrity Roast for Marc Butler in 2015.  It was great fun.

That is what I strive to do: keep a smile on my face.  There really is a lot to smile about.  The other stuff I can’t really do much about.  At least I can keep making my daily post!

 

On Second Thought, It Is More Like Wuss-out Wednesday

I promised myself a Mid-week Monsters post.  Unfortunately, right now I feel too tired to do any kind of a post at all. No, no!  I must not go back to writing posts about Why I Can’t Write A Post Today!

“Oh no! I have to do a blog post!”

Here is our skeleton Bonita, having a wrist to forehead moment.  I have been having a number of those moments lately.  But I try to carry on as best as I can.  Rehearsal last night went very well, by the way.  I have a great cast!

Not a monster.

I just love this picture of my friend Tucker as Renwick Spaulding, the bug loving murder suspect in Donate to Murder, which we rehearsed last night.  Thus I stray from my Mid-week Monsters theme but at least I am talking about something.  Does that make this Non-Sequitur Wednesday?

I don’t t like the way he’s looking at me.

I return to monsters with this handsome fellow. Love the neck bolts.

I have long had the rule to make my blog posts at least 200 words long.  I don’t know where I got that number, but I’m thinking I may not make it today.  Oops, I just did by wondering if I would.  Does that count?  I don’t care if it does or not; I’m going to bed.

My bed is a little bigger than this.

Happy Wednesday, everyone.

 

Here’s a Suspicious Bunch!

This is another Pre-Rehearsal Post.  The rehearsal is for Donate to Murder, which I believe I have mentioned before.

Here we are at the read-through.

Before the read-through, I took a few mug shots of the suspects.

She appears to be a loving Flower Child, but appearances can be decieving!

 

He looks so friendly, you’d never know he was such a stinker. Did I say that in my out loud voice?

 

He looks suspicious! Or is he looking suspiciously at me?

 

WAY too handsome to be a murderer! (Yes, that’s my husband, why do you ask?)

Our friend Kim was late, so I did not take her picture.  I bet I have one in my Media Library.

Maybe they’re in it together! Say it ain’t so!

So the only suspect I haven’t shown today is me.  Oh, all right, I’ll find a picture of me!

Clearly this woman is not to be trusted.

I will not look like this in my costume, although I may have such a silly grin on my face.  I can’t always help the doofy faces I make (although sometimes I do it on purpose).

I guess I haven’t said much about the mystery itself.  Right now I will just say Donate to Murder is Friday, March 27 at the Travelodge in Little Falls.  For more information, contact the Herkimer County Historical Society at 315-866-6413.

 

Who Doesn’t Love a Tired Tuesday Post?

OK.  First I had the Stare Blank-minded At A Blank Screen disease.  Then I had the Type It In Backspace It Out disease.  I am, in fact, struggling mightily with myself not to backspace out those two sentences.  I’ve had worse Tired Tuesday posts.  I think.

Now there’s a character!

I thought I would pep things up with a picture.  This is our good friend Tucker,  in a truly brilliant performance in Donate to Murder, the mystery we are reviving for a fundraiser for the Herkimer County Historical Society next month.  Earlier today I was going over the script and making a few changes. I love writing.  I can never understand why I don’t do more of it.  What the hell, me?

Another dramatic moment.

I certainly hope I can find that hat with all the feathers.  Finishing the re-polish of Donate is not the only writerly chore I have to  concern myself with. However, I do not care to write about everything I Am Going To Write.  Then again, it would make a change from writing about How I Can’t Write Anything.  Oh dear.

Bennie the Bootlegger was not actually shaped like that.

Well, maybe one more preview of coming attractions.  LiFT is reviving Rubbed Out At Ruby’s for a fundraiser for RCIL in April.  Who doesn’t love a 1920’s murder mystery?

 

Not Too Crappy to Contemplate Murder

I feel less crappy than yesterday!

But crappier than tomorrow!

You know,  to the tune of “I love you more today than yesterday.”   I didn’t know that was a song for the longest time.  I noticed that lots of people (girls, mostly) (not to buy into gender based stereotypes, but such was my observation) would use it in the Valentine messages you could put in the newspaper.  Imagine my surprise to learn they were quoting a song.

Be that as it may, my aching head is saying, “I can’t write a blog post!”  Yes, in a pathetic, whiny voice.  I am sufficiently disgusted with myself.  And I know for a fact that it isn’t so.  I just kind of sort of wrote something.  I could probably share it here.  For one reason, it would up my word count.

You see, our friends at the Herkimer County Historical Society asked us (meaning me and my murderous actor friends) to revive a murder mystery we did some time ago at the Herkimer Elms Lodge.  I think Caryl referred to it as “the one with Tucker and the bugs.”  Kind of sounds like an episode of Friends, doesn’t it?  Today she messaged me asking for a few specifics for their newsletter.

First I had to find the script, which I had unaccountably not saved in the same place as the other murder mysteries in my laptop.  It too some clicking, but eventually I located it.  Luckily I had already been thinking about some modifications to make the script more suitable for the historical society.  Here is what I managed to send to Caryl:

Eric O’Chevsky, who describes himself as an organizer and community builder (although some call him a shady wheeler dealer, or so I have heard), has discovered that the Herkimer County Historical Society recently received a major grant. He organized this dinner for his associates to pitch their ideas for good uses for the money. Some of their ideas may seem to have a tenuous connection to local history, but you know, people have to follow the money.

The people vying for a donation are:

Meryl Barrymore, a community theatre actress, wants to do a historical play (assuming she can find one with a glamorous enough lead). Flora Fortenza, who is something of a flower child, wants to plant lots of flowers around the Suiter House and perhaps all around the Historic Four Corners. Phoebe Larkspur wants to place bird houses all around, perhaps patterned after historic buildings. Dudley Turnbull wants to place poop bags for people walking their dogs. Isn’t that corner a popular dog walking place? Harold Greene, an environmentalist and brilliant scientist, is partnering with Dudley’s project and wants to invent a biodegradable poop bag. Renwick Spaulding is hoping to mount a display of bugs. Historic bugs of course.

The title is Donate to Murder.  It will be presented on March 27 at the Travel Lodge in Little Falls.  More information to follow!

Looks like a suspicious bunch to me!

 

 

Cheered by Murder Mysteries

I wrote another sentence on the post I just couldn’t seem to write yesterday.  Now I am going to have my usual Lame Post Friday.  I feel sure many of my readers have been expecting it.

A happy couple, and may I say a handsome one.

I am sitting here with my dear husband Steven, and it is a little difficult to make a blog post when we keep wanting to talk.  We started reminiscing about murder mysteries, starting with the most recent, Fabulous and Fatal.  Above is a picture of the two of us, looking fabulous (or do I flatter myself?).  I should share a picture of the whole cast.  That was a great show.

As much fabulousness as allowed by law!

There are more murder mysteries on the horizon.  A plan is afoot to revive Rubbed Out at Rubies  to benefit RCIL.  More informative about that later!

Who killed Benny the Bootlegger?

There will be a couple of cast changes, and I intend to find another outfit. I’ll post more pictures as soon as I have them.

This is an even better cast photo.

My writing struggles continue, but it certainly makes me feel better to think about murder mysteries.  I may have to write a few new scenes for Ruby’s.   Then maybe a new murder mystery…

I’ll keep you posted!

 

Deadly Women on Tired Tuesday

I loves me some Deadly Women!

I open with this picture, because I am posting while watching Deadly Women on ID.  I don’t usually like re-enactmentfests, as I call them, but this one is fun.  I like Candace DeLong, who hosts.

For anybody who wonders if I am still feeling sick and whining about it, well, yes.  I’m  trying not to whine too much, with some small success.  Hot tea with lemon and honey helps.  So will going to bed early, especially if I can have that frisson of virtue from making my blog post.

Ah, but can I truly enjoy the frisson if my blog post is stupid?  Quick, Cindy, say something entertaining!

Sexy ladies, no?

Here are some deadly women of the theatrical variety.  At least, it is me and two friends in 1920’s garb for the Ritz and Ragtime at Rutger Park fundraiser.  Each of us has been the murderess for one or another of my murder mysteries, although no untimely deaths occured at the time this picture was taken.

She was pretty hot. I believe she still is.

Here is a theatrical version of a real life deadly woman (though some would say she was just a girl).   Ellen McQueeney went to school with my husband back in the day.  She is very beautiful and talented.  I recently saw a true crime show about Amy Fisher.  Although they talked about the media frenzy which ensued, they did not mention the musical.

So here is my Tired Tuesday blog post.  I hope I have entertained.

 

It’s ALL About ME!

It has not been a good blogging week for Mohawk Valley Girl (cue unkind remarks about the lousy quality of most of my blogging weeks).  And here I am about to do another post about not being able to make a post. No!  It can’t be true!  Ooh, I know what: I’ll look in my Media Library and do a Throwback Thursday post.

I’ve always had sexy legs.

Here is one of my favorite pictures: me as Ruby VanRensselaer from the 1920’s murder mystery Rubbed Out at Ruby’s.

Who, me? Drink beer?

And here I am at the Ommengang Brewery in Cooperstown NY.  I wonder if I should make this post all pictures of me.  What an ego!  Then again this is a personal blog.  It’s All Me All the Time, even when I am plugging local businesses and events.

I miss that ‘do.

And I find there are not all that many pictures of me in my Media Library.  At last I found this one of me on St. Baldrick’s Day, helping raise money for cancer research.  I’d like to do one of those events again, although I hesitate to ask my friends and family to donate.  It seems everybody is raising money for a good cause these days.  Then again, people can always tell me no.  Something to think about.

In the meantime,  I am over 200 words.  Yay!  I’ll call it a blog post.  As always, thank you for tuning in.

 

Another Late Post About Not Writing

I guess I am not a daily blogger any more.  Or else I need more blogger sick days.  At any rate, yesterday evening I got a bad headache and could not even manage to type in “Please excuse Mohawk Valley Girl…”  I would like to say, “In my defense, I did some writing earlier,” but it is not really a defense.  Even if I had, for example, hand written a post in my notebook on breaks at work, I may not have had the wherewithal to type it in last night.  What a wimp! I used to be able to function with a headache!

I have been trying, once again, to turn over a new writer’s leaf (or would that be a page?) (probably; metaphor is not my forte).  So far, not so good, I guess.  I hesitate to say what I have been working on, because I don’t want to jinx it.  I even had what seemed like a great idea for a murder mystery.  It came to me in a dream, so in the light of day, it may not seem so good.  Once again, we won’t jinx it by premature discussion.

OK, so I’ve talked about why I didn’t write anything last night and a couple of things I will not talk about today.  I think I should make Not Writing an official category of Mohawk Valley Girl.

 

A Few Fabulous Photos

A truly fabulous cast!

This post is going to be heavy on pictures, but I think that will be acceptable, because they are fabulous pictures!  These were taken by the Herkimer County Historical Society of Fabulous and Fatal, the murder mystery we put on as a benefit last Friday (perhaps you read a few of my blog posts about it).  Things did not go as rehearsed, because one actor decided at the last minute not to participate.  But that is the excitement of live theatre!  We made it work.  The audience was entertained, and we had fun.

Steve and I: the couple that plays together, stays together!

 

Who says a drag queen can’t have a beard? I think he’s pretty!

 

For that matter, who says a drag queen can’t be a woman!

 

And here is a true Drama Queen!

 

“J’accuse!”

I end with a most dramatic shot.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  I certainly hope that is true, because I have not attained my usual 200 words. I’m going to call it OK for a Tired Tuesday.