Tag Archives: murder mystery

Pre-Rehearsal Monsters

Posted on March 26, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

Really, when you come to think of it, my life is pretty boring.

To begin this week’s Monstrous Monday post, I went to our laptop’s Downloads, to see if my husband, Steven, had downloaded any monsters I hadn’t used yet.  This is what I found.  I would love an outfit like the one that lady is wearing, but I am less enamored with her escort.  She looks as if she is regretting it as well.  You just can’t trust those on-line dating apps.

“Did somebody say Monstrous Monday?”

Finding no further treasures in the Downloads, I return to my Media Library and find my old favorite, Nosferatu (1922).  I should perhaps mention that I am posting in haste (posthaste, that is an old word seldom used these days), because I have a rehearsal this evening.  I feel fortunate that I don’t have any days of two rehearsals this week (unless we reschedule Wednesday’s rehearsal for Thursday, but I can’t worry about that now).  One murder mystery is in the books!  In less than two weeks, both murder mysteries will be over and done with, and I will only have to worry about Morning’s at Seven (the full-length play I am in at Ilion Little Theatre).  Regular readers may recall that I mentioned in a vague sort of way another theatre project I may have undertaken.  Well, it seems not, so Phew!

My happy face when I only have one rehearsal.

I hope to do a couple of longer posts, telling more about my theatrical endeavors, especially in case local readers might like to attend.  For today, though, I must say Happy Monday and may all your monsters be nice ones.

 

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Post Before Murder

Posted on March 24, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I keep telling myself that a few nerves before a performance are a good thing (good things?  Is each nerve good?  Discuss amongst yourselves).  That said, why do I feel as if I am having a full-blown panic attack?  I said it in a recent post and I will say it again, what the hell, me?  This is not my first rodeo, as regular readers know.  Additionally, I know how many things can go wrong and a performance still be entertaining and appreciated.  These heart palpitations have got to stop!

For anyone just tuning in, and for those who cannot keep all my gyrations straight (indeed, why should you be expected to when I cannot keep them straight myself?), tonight’s performance is A Trivial Murder, an interactive murder mystery presented to benefit Herkimer County Historical Society. We are rehearsed.  We know our lines, we know our characters.  We know where we are going and what time to be there.

I will feel better after I am completely ready.  My costume is not laid out but what I want to wear is in my head.  If the shirt I am thinking of is dirty, there are other candidates in my closet.  I even found my rubber gloves so I can put the purple in my hair (not a necessity, but I think it will add a nice touch, and I did find the bottle earlier).  Enough heart-burnings! (Ooh, that’s it: I have heartburn because of the egg sammich I ate earlier to tide myself over till dinner) (yes, I like to spell it “sammich”).

Perhaps I will do a post-murder post tomorrow.  Or it will be Wrist to Forehead Sunday, as I hurry on to my next theatrical endeavor.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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Witless But Deadly

Posted on March 14, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, I spent another day NOT writing a blog post while on breaks at work.  In my defense, my light-headed-ness continued.  In my — what? accusation? prosecution?  Somebody get me a thesaurus! — it was not as bad as yesterday.  Well, these things happened, and blog posts must be made.  Why, you may ask.  I say, because they are not there.  See what I did there?  Thus, mildly pleased with myself, I continue with this week’s Witless Wednesday post.

She is cold, yes.

First I throw in a random picture, so this can be a kind of a Wordless Wednesday as well (not that I am every completely wordless).  Here is Bette Davis, committing the murder that begins The Letter (1940).  I thought a picture from a murder movie would be appropriate, because the rehearsal I am about to go to is for a murder mystery.  Unfortunately, the murder in The Letter is no mystery.  At least, not unfortunately for the movie; it’s a great movie.  Unfortunately for the picture being entirely appropriate.  I did mention this is Witless Wednesday, did I not?

Judith Anderson and Vincent Price.

Here is a picture from an authentic murder mystery, Laura (1944).  In my mind, this is the real romantic couple of the picture, never mind Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews.

I don’t imagine it was trivial to the victim.

The murder mystery we are rehearsing is A Trivial Murder, an interactive dinner theatre to be presented March 23 at the Travel Lodge in Little Falls, NY, to benefit Herkimer County Historical Society.  Doors open at 5, dinner starts at 6. Cost is $25 per person.  For more information, contact the historical society at 315-866-6413.

 

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Post Rehearsal Post

Posted on March 9, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought for a change I would do a Post Rehearsal Post. I know, I almost always have a Lame Post Friday, but for one reason, I have had a number of lame posts lately.  For another, I would like to begin plugging A Trivial Murder, the interactive dinner theatre we are putting on to benefit Herkimer County Historical Society.  Regular readers might remember that mystery was originally scheduled for last October but was postponed.  It has been rescheduled for March 23, and we are in rehearsal mode.

Full disclosure: there was actual wine in those glasses.

The mystery begins with a toast to Jack German, the previous host of Who Knows Herkimer History? He died under mysterious circumstances.  Somebody claims to know something about those circumstances. Will he or she meet with an untimely end?

 

One taking notes, one grief-stricken, one blase. Which is sincere?

 

The plot thickens!  Of course, I cannot tell you much about the actual plot, since I am hoping to entice local readers to attend the murder mystery.  I think it is going to be highly entertain, but perhaps I flatter myself.

Accusations fly!

A Trivial Murder is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, at Little Falls Travel Lodge, doors open at 5 p.m.  Tickets are $25 for dinner and the show.  For more information, contact Herkimer County Historical Society at 315-866-6413.

 

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Getting a Clue on Tired Tuesday

Posted on March 6, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I CAN’T be tired, even if it is Tuesday!  I have rehearsal tonight!  For those of you just tuning in, it is for Morning’s at Seven at Ilion Little Theatre.  Just a half hour ago, I was congratulating myself that I had two and half hours before I had to be there: plenty of time for a blog post and other writing chores.  How’s that working out for me, you ask?  IT’S NOT!!!

OK, got that off my chest, on with the blog post.  I worked more on the murder mystery which should have been completed by now.  I question the wisdom of sharing that it is not done yet.  However, since I have neither a full cast nor rehearsals scheduled, I may as well admit the entire ugly truth. Never mind.  That script will be completed by week’s end, and the performance will be highly entertaining for all involved.

But getting back to the play at hand, I spent some time today working on my lines, while on break, OF COURSE, put down that phone if you were about to call my boss on me!  While I was actually working, I thought about my character (I have the sort of job where I can think about other things while I work).  I’m trying to piece together her backstory.  It’s always fun for me, figuring out from the script what happened before and what my character is thinking about now.  Later on in the rehearsal period, I’ll start writing a sequel in my head.  I would never actually write a sequel to somebody else’s script (I like to make up my own characters), but it is entertaining to talk to the other actors about what comes next.

Come to think about it, that makes every play kind of a mystery.  I look for CLUES in the script and figure things out!  Maybe I’ll make a good mystery writer yet.  In the meantime, I still have some time before rehearsal to work more on my lines.

 

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A Place in Scattered Saturday

Posted on November 4, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

“No, I don’t know what she should write a blog post about, do you?”

 

We are currently watching A Place in the Sun after our Scattered Saturday gyrations, and it is high time I made my blog post.  Why, oh why, did I not post earlier?  Well, I’ve been busy.  I got up early enough, just prior to 6 a.m.  After some coffee, I went for a run. What a great run! I could have made an awesome Saturday Running Commentary, but that ship sailed away fast.  What can I say?

Later in the morning, we drove to New Hartford, NY, where we ordered new glasses at Eye Q of CNY.  We had gotten out eyes examined a few weeks ago, but I had too bad of a headache that day to decide on glasses.  I was happy we waited, though, because I chose a rather fabulous pair of frames.  Perhaps I will post a picture of the finished product.

Later on we went to an early dinner at Salvatore’s in Herkimer, NY, with some of the folks who were supposed to be part of A Trivial Murder, the interactive murder mystery that was  to have been tonight.  It has been rescheduled to March 23.  I will have more information on that as the date approaches.

So I guess we have not scattered ourselves as widely as on other Saturdays.  No matter.  We are watching a movie.  I have made a blog post. I hope you are all having as pleasant a Saturday evening.

 

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Why am I Smiling on Monstrous Monday?

Posted on October 30, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Can I have a Monstrous Monday after having a Many Monsters Sunday?  I think so, and not just because it is almost Halloween.  I like monsters ALL YEAR LONG!!! And, blogworthy activities-wise, I ain’t got much.  I will just mention that after last Saturday’s Haunted Historic Four Corners and the cancellation this Saturday’s murder mystery, I find myself in the rare and unfamiliar state of Nothing I HAVE To Do.  No commitments.  Nothing I need to work on and get done by a certain date.  (Oh well, my article(s) for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  Let’s not talk about that; just let me savor this!)

My teeth are not this good, but I have a similar smile right now.

I have not idea who this wolfman is.  I went to the Facebook page The Golden Age of Monster Movies and looked through the photos for a happy monster.

This is what I looked like a few weeks ago, when I was still trying to cast the murder mystery.

This, in case you didn’t know, is Elisha Cook, Jr., in House on Haunted Hill (1959).  Full disclosure:  I didn’t remember his name and had to look it up.

Since I do not have to begin writing another murder mystery till 2019 (for Morning Star Methodist Church in Ilion, NY in probably April), I can turn once again to writing novels.  I tried it this morning, but things did not go very well.  I have been jotting notes and inventing characters.  I have a few ideas, so I will persevere.  I will let you know how it goes.

I must bear this thought in mind.

 

I’ll remember this dictum as well.

OK, that was my pep talk to myself.  I will close with another monster, just because.

“Don’t forget about me!”

It was a choice between Michael Myers and Nosferatu.  Jaime Lee Curtis, I love you, but for me, Nosferatu always wins.

 

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Did Someone Say Beer?

Posted on October 26, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I feel a Non-Sequitur Thursday post brewing in (what’s left of) my brain, but first: a sad (to me, anyways) note:  A Trivial Murder has been postponed till spring, date to be determined.  I had all my lines learned and was working on everybody else’s (it is helpful to know the whole script, so you can help out if the actors get off track) (but that’s a whole other blog post) (then again, why should I worry about getting sidetracked on Non-Sequitur Thursday?).

Where was I?  Ah yes, nowhere.  As usual at these times, I will look for a picture to post.

“Doh! Wrong holiday!”

What could be more non-sequitur than Santa Claus in a Halloween shirt? (That could be a rhetorical question, but if anybody has an answer, feel free to comment below.)  This picture is from last October, but Santa is wearing that shirt now.  Alas, I cannot wear it myself any more, because I have worn it out.  It is riddled with itty bitty holes.  We have not decorated much for our favorite holiday this year.  Perhaps tomorrow or Saturday I will take pictures of what there is (besides Santa) and make a blog post about it.  I’m too lazy to do it now.  Additionally, I have to run soon to a rehearsal for the Haunted Historic Four Corners Tour I mentioned in yesterday’s post.

I need another picture.

Whodunnit? We’ll never tell!

Since I’m feeling a little sad about A Trivial Murder, I’ll share the picture of last October’s A G.R.A.V.E. Murder.  That was a fun one.

“Where have you been all my life, tall, dark and gruesome?”

Just to add one more photo, and to remind myself that it is so Thursday (I’ve had a four day week so get a little confused), I close with this.  Who doesn’t love Frankenstein’s monster with a mermaid? (That one was definitely a rhetorical question.)  I wonder if I have any beer in the fridge…

 

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Monday Monster Musings

Posted on October 16, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I should have known what kind of a day I was going to have when I cut my grapefruit in half and forgot to cut on the equator.  I haven’t done that since my sister showed me after she learned it in Home Economics!  (So I already knew it when I took Home Economics two years later; sometimes it’s not so bad being a little sister.)  So I did learn something today:  it is possible to eat an incorrectly cut grapefruit with a spoon.

I know, other people had other things happen to them — their own fault or otherwise — that were far more uncomfortable, inconvenient, or worse.  But I was struck by my own ineptness and wanted to mention it.

Could this be the reason I mis-cut my grapefruit?

I thought I would add a picture to pep things up and found this little cutie in my Media Library (I tried searching for something new, but had no luck and less patience).  So here we have a Monstrous Monday post.

It is also a Post-Rehearsal Post, because I have recently returned from a rehearsal of A Trivial Murder, the interactive dinner theatre we are putting on to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society (perhaps you read my other blog posts bout it).

Our host doesn’t look like this, but he has a more winning smile.

That is the cover photo on the Facebook event of the mystery.  Murder is pretty monstrous, right?

I hardly ever share this monster, but it is almost Halloween.

Here is another monster who is supposedly human. (Spoiler alert: I’m about to talk about endings of Halloween movies!).  I say supposedly, because I saw Halloween II, where he walked out of a flaming room in flames himself and flopped down on the floor, continuing to burn.  I could buy that he got shot and walked away after the first Halloween; maybe they missed all vital organs and it only looked like a lot of blood.  Those flames would be really hard to live through.  I did not see another Halloween movie till Halloween H2O, and I don’t remember how they dispatched Michael Myers in that one (although I saw it just now when I Googled Halloween H2O to see how to spell “Michael Myers”) (and I still think it’s funny that he has the same name as the guy from Wayne’s World).

So this is my Monday post.  Sufficiently monstrous, I trust.  I hope to see you all on Tuesday, when I hope not to be too Tired.

 

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Wednesdays are Murder

Posted on October 11, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Shall we blame this on menopausal brain fog, seasonal allergies, or, well, me?  The fact is, after Monstrous Monday and Tired Tuesday, today is Wuss-out Wednesday.  But perhaps I can give another plug to A Trivial Murder, the interactive dinner theatre to benefit Herkimer County Historical Society.  I just got back from another rehearsal.  I need to learn my lines.

The setting is a special taping of “Who Knows Herkimer History?” that popular game show, with our new host, Gary “Herk” Henderson.  The previous host, Jack German, died under mysterious circumstances, but let us not allow such gloomy thoughts to intrude. Tonight is also exciting, because of our returning champion, Ned Frances, who has been winning for an unprecedentedly long time.  Will someone cut off his winning streak?  Will our glamorous Prize Girl, Scarlett Scarsdale, be awarding cash and prizes to a new champion?  According to producer Evelyn Moore, our resident historian, Dr. D. Devonshire, has promised some tough questions.  All the excitement will be recorded by Bernie Woods, writer for Game Show Gambit magazine.  Things will be started soon by our announcer, Rod Toddman.

How does that sound for program notes? I think I’ll email it to the historical society and see what they think.  In the meantime, local readers might like to make reservations for the show:  Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, 6 to 8 p.m. at Ilion Moose Lodge, 302 Barringer Rd., Ilion, NY, doors open at 5 p.m. $25 per person for turkey dinner and the show.  For reservations, contact the society at 315-866-6413.  For more information, consult the Facebook event.

 

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