Don’t trust your neighbor, don’t trust the guy next you – don’t trust anyone. There is a murderer lurking about. The place: Serb Hall (5101 W. Oklahoma Ave.). The name of the game: Totally 80’s, Totally Murder. Don’t worry, it’s “murder you can laugh at,” says the slogan of the Murder Mystery Co. Nevertheless, you and 200 others have a crime to solve and dinner to enjoy.
At the beginning of the evening, actors play out the murder. Then they choose 10-12 people from the audience to get into character and act as the suspects. “Sometimes people are a little bit reluctant, but we usually have a keen sense of reading the audience members to see who’d be a good participant, remarks Justin Issa, National Director for the Murder Mystery Co.
Guests then have the chance to eat dinner and mingle with the different suspects and gather clues. “People typically don’t know what to expect, but that’s what makes it fun,” admits Issa. At the end of the night, each table gets a crack at solving the crime. There are even special prizes for best actor and detective of the night.
“Its surprising to see how funny people can be and how much they break out their shells – of course the drinking helps. I’ve had people try to give me mouth-to-mouth, though it’s usually one of our actors,” reveals Issa.
The Murder Mystery Co. started in Michigan in 2002 and has been performing in Milwaukee for over a year. Mostly through Internet marketing, the company exploded to 12 other cities with plans to open soon in Boston and Atlanta.
Feel free to don your best ‘80s garb to the show. Themes change every couple months and there is always a different culprit, so you can return to the scene of the crime. There are three upcoming shows: Friday, Feb. 24 and Saturday, March 17 at 7 p.m. or Sunday, March 25 at 5 p.m.
Tickets are $60 and include a three-course meal. But wait! Mention the Main Event blog and they’ll let you into the Feb. 24 and March 17 SOLD OUT shows for only $30. To cash in on this spectacular deal, call for 1888-643-CLUE (2583). Murder Mystery Co. recommends arriving 30 minutes before show time.
Want to shake up your next office party? The Murder Mystery Co. also does private events for individual and corporate groups of 10-300 people (prices ranges from 300-$2,000 depending on the services.
Photos courtesy of Murder Mystery Co.
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