A Scenario for a Murder Mystery Event
by Jenny Gilbert
What's It All About?
- A Murder Mystery for an acting company to perform to an audience
- The actors improvise the dialogue based on plot and character briefs provided by Lazy Bee Scripts
- The audience try to work out whodunnit
What Does Lazy Bee Scripts Provide?
Lazy Bee Scripts supplies a pack of material, including:-- An Overview for the Organiser, including
- Guidelines for preparing the mystery
- Guidelines for running the mystery
- Suggested timings
- A "narrative arc" for the mystery
- Key plot points
- Essential events
- Character Briefs for each character
- Character description
- Character history
- Motivation
- The Solution
- Explained by the detective
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 audience members are brought together for a fictitious 'special event'. A murder takes place, which the participants are invited to solve.
- 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...
- This Mystery Needs
- An 'acting company' of 3 men and 4 women
- No specific set or furniture
- Estimated run times (which may vary enormously!)
- Improvised elements: 40 minutes
|
| Want to know more? Download the (pdf) Taster Pack |
What's the Mystery Here?
"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! Enter local Police Inspector Cyrus Anide to investigate - but he's going to need some help...