Pass the Poison Murder Mystery Scenario

A Murder Mystery Scenario
by Jenny Gilbert
 
What's it all about?
  • A murder mystery event in which the actors mingle and interact with the audience / guests
  • Lazy Bee Scripts provides the scenario
  • The actors improvise the dialogue based on the scenario
 
What's does Lazy Bee Scripts provide?
Lazy Bee Scripts supplies a pack of material for the performing company including:-
  • A "narrative arc" for the murder, covering
    • Essential events
    • Essential plot points
    • The resolution!
  • A background brief for each character
    • Character description
    • Character history
    • Motivation
  • General staging guidelines
    • Recommendations for preparation
    • Guidelines for improvisation (and how to deal with awkward members of the audience!)
    • Preparing the venue for the event (making sure that the staff don't throw the actors out for bad behaviour!)
 
Note that Lazy Bee Scripts does not provide a script for the dialogue. Because the actors are interacting with the audience, it is not possible to stick to a fixed script, instead the actors improvise dialogue based on the "narrative arc."
 

What's a Murder Mystery Event?

  • The scenario is run as if the audience has been brought together for a special occasion
  • In this case
    • The event is a village hall party to celebrate the retirement of Betty Blocker 
    • The "audience" has the role of the people invited to the party
    • As the (the "top-table guests") actors arrive and mingle, the plot develops until one of the characters is found murdered...
 
What's in this Scenario?

"I’m going to be 65, I’m retiring, I’ll have a birthday party to remember!" And she did!

Betty Blocker has been running the family farm by herself for 20 years. Now she's retiring, and they have all been invited - everyone living in the Hamlet of Belladonna.

Special guests include:-
Poppy White, 66, a writer, completely oblivious to all the trouble she causes, with a new book nearing completion..
Heli Bore, a widow in her 40’s, the local Vet, who chose a wealthy husband instead of marrying Robin
Ignatius Beans, in his late 20’s is Betty’s chauvinistic farm worker
Bryony Black, in her early 20’s
Robin Wake, an ex-Civil Servant in his 40’s

The party progresses until one of the guests is found poisoned!
 
What do I need to Buy?
Lazy Bee Scripts scripts charges two fees:-
  • A flat fee of £15 for the murder mystery scenario pack
    • Downloadable from the Internet as a pdf file
    • Containing all the essential materials
    • Can be used multiple times by your acting company (but you must pay the performance fee for each performance)
  • A fee of £20 for each performance of the scenario (regardless of the "audience" size)