Past Tense

These days there are more and more event hosting companies venturing into the murder mystery genre for parties. Your options are growing, with most cities in America now having several to choose from. Why the growth in popularity?

Because a good murder mystery is thrilling. A truly good mystery is challenging to participants. When a troupe knows what they are doing, the party-goers can escape their daily lives and be transported to a different time and place – a world full of mystery and suspense.

When you are talking with a potential murder mystery company, there are questions they should be asking to help you decide on the best set-up for your party. Would you like contemporary settings, or should we theme the party in another era like Victorian England or the Roaring Twenties? Would you like over the top actors, putting on a show, or actors that blend in with your guests and keep them guessing? Do you want a plot that is light and silly, or more serious sleuthing? Should we do a dark black comedy, or a modern Sopranos style parody?

I joined the mystery performance world when I was 23, back in 1989. The concept was still new, they called it Audience Participation Theater. I joined a group in NJ and the style was all camp: madcap hijinx, outlandish costumes and characters, hokey but fun. Working the tables, making people laugh, I had a blast. I even wrote my own silly script that company is still using today.

When I moved to California a few years later, the genre was now called Interactive Theater, and the style was changing. The trend was now to have the actors blend in to the party, you would think they were just another guest. Figuring out who was an actor and who was a guest was challenging and stimulating to the audience. And the plots were more serious, less predictable. It bothered me though that there was so much down time for the audience with this style, and great actors were being under utilized.

One character in this style did not blend in, the lead detective was outed of course from the start, and drove the night. A fun and important role, I auditioned for the role, telling the producer that I would be a cross between Columbo and Jay Leno. I developed performed that character in mystery dinners across the country with this company, who called themselves the Rolls Royce of Mystery Companies.

Now I am Detective Sharpo for my own murdery mystery theater troupe, Sharpo Mysteries. I believe in a blend of challenging detective work mixed in with some silliness. We want guests to be intrigued and entertained at the same time. This perfect mix keeps the night moving and leaves everyone happy. Nora and I write the scripts ourselves, I am now a member of the Mystery Writers of America, and they employ quality compelling plots, not cheesy surface predictable fluff. But we never forget we are here to have fun. We even start the night early during the cocktail hour with intermingling performers doing magic and comedy in a lowkey fashion, it sets the tone for a night of fun.

By asking the right questions, you can find a murder mystery company in your city that truly provides a one of a kind experience. This perfect mix of mystery and comedy will leave your guests talking about this event for years!