From...

By Barb Tipton

Carlos Cuellar, owner of Marne Interactive Productions with his wife Marne, who played Prince Anora Anora in Who Wants to Murder a Millionaire?, greeted us at the door. Invited to wander the first floor, we headed for the cash bar and mingled with the actors and guests. You first get a sense for what is in store when players interact with everyone during the cocktail mixer. It doesn't take long to get into the swing of things as you try to figure out who's an actor and who isn't. Since they dress a bit outlandishly, it wasn't too difficult. Mrs. Farnsworthy, the British secretary, approached us first then Aimes Coldthrottle, the millionaire, followed by Reggie Rothchild III, Crazy Ed the handyman and Princess Anora Anora a.k.a. Agnes Stubbs. When the mixer was over, the audience was summoned to the foot of the mansion's grand staircase for a short history on the beginnings of the Lumber Baron Inn, along with clues, which were tossed about all night, waiting for the guests to pick up and mull them over. Then we went up two flights of stairs to the grand ballroom, set with eight table, each seating ten guests. The buffet style dinner featured chicken beast in a Dijon cream sauce, rigatoni Alfredo, field salad, fresh melon slices and lemonade, rolls, coffee and lemonade, all very tasty.

Much of what you see is scripted, but the experienced actors added spice and good humor with delightful improvisation. After eating, the play resumed with the murder happening (spurt, spurt, spurt) and a search for more clues took place among the tables. There were various means that could have doomed the millionaire so the audience became deputized to assist the detective. It's a hilarious evening as we watched a short version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? with a member of the audience and later everyone danced around the room in a Conga line. One of the characters, Crazy Ed had his best friend, a fern he carried with him.... they had a 'platonic' relationship. Reggie had written a book, Don't Hate Me... Because I'm Rich.

And it went uphill from there. We were treated to one-liners, like "don't ever take a sleeping pill and a laxative in the same night." One of the clues was a wineglass set down on our table by the millionaire-pre-death. When another audience participant picked up the clue on his table, the detective pointed out that he now had his fingerprints on it. I should've known not to pick up the glass. When I handed it to the detective... Well, you had to be there! Considering the setting, atmosphere, food and thoroughly enjoyable play, this is a bargain. Arrive early. You won't want to miss a minute of the evening's fun. Produced by Marne Interactive Productions, they also have two other venues where they produce Who Wants to Murder a Millionaire? and other interactive plays.