 Media Credit: Marina Pardee Talented actors, actresses, and dead-on accents made the CCE mystery show worthwhile.
| |
The stage was set, and the O'Connell House became the O'Connell Estate, complete with gardens, a ballroom, a wet bar, and mystery. Before attendees were permitted to enter, however, they were given small blue programs. This was not a regular program that showcased the actors' resumes and different scenes, but rather a sort of rule book outlining the show that was about to begin. The show was divided into different scenes occurring throughout the "mansion." All scenes in the ballroom were witnessed by all guests; however, one had to choose which area to enter when the ballroom was in recess: either the tea room or Conte Library. These showcased scenes that provided new hints to the puzzle.
Upon entering the O'Connell House, the transformation was evident. There was a band in the corner playing time-appropriate music while maids and waitstaff were milling about, making sure everyone was comfortable and had a glass of champagne in front of them. Various characters would stop off at each table and chat with the guests, giving little hints about the goings-on and adding their personal suspicions about the house and its owner. These characters revealed that the real reason that everyone was gathered was to bid on the O'Connell Estate, which was up for sale after Mr. O'Connell's mysterious death.
Once all of the guests were seated, the real show began. The audience was introduced to the cast of VIPs or people bidding for the mansion. This cast of characters included matron of the house Veronica O'Connell (Megan Licari, LSOE '10), feisty young heiress Frederique Thompson (Katie "KD" Dadarria, A&S '09), newspaper tycoon M. Manfred Matheson (Sean Harris, A&S '08), movie star Lillian Willows (Andrea Giovannucci, A&S '08), WWI veteran pilot Major Davidson Sinclair (Tim Harrington '08), and bumbling explorer Admiral Artemis Thorpe (Justin Bourassa, A&S '08).
The rest of the two-hour show was devoted to bidding and rumors. Each scene in the ballroom was scripted and brought the viewers a little closer to solving the crime. At first, many of the audience members believed they were trying to solve the death of Mr. O'Connell, when suddenly a scream was heard and it was revealed that the highest bidder on the house, M. Manfred Matheson, had been killed.
2008 Woodie Awards
