We cut back on some of the normally scheduled events to give the Murder Mystery a full 30 minutes.
The murder mystery was centered around the murder of a Major David Ascot, who was found murdered in The Club parking lot, a butcher knife in his back. In preparing the Murder Mystery, I selected several club members and then prepared profile for each member who was taking the role of a suspect or a witness.
I took their real names and changed them just a little. I then took their real life profile and changed it to give them a motive for the crime.
For example, our Sergeant of Arms is John King. He is a Landscape Architect by profession and has given a few speeches around that subject. In the murder mystery he became Sergeant King, and keeping with his Landscape Architect background, his profile said that he planted palm trees in front of the Major's business. The palm trees died and now the Major has refused to pay. (This club is located close to Toronto, Canada and the closest we get to palm trees is in the movies.)
Similar profiles and motives were provided for the other members who were participating. The similarity between the Toastmasters regular job and the fictional character they were playing made it a little easier for them to play the part and have fun doing it.
To present the Murder Mystery we created a "Club" like environment with low lights, soft music, etc. The cast all came forward and sat down in what looked the sitting room of the Club. They were then interrogated by the two police officers.
The cast member who was guilty, knew they were guilty all the others knew they were innocent.
Enclosed is our Murder Mystery handout. You may want to try something similar for your Halloween meeting. Just take your own member profiles, alter them a little and give it a try.
To be successful, I suggest you provide this to your cast a day in advance. This will give them more time to prepare and perhaps even come dressed in a costume to fit the part.
In our Murder Mystery, the Butcher (Peter Vig) was guilty.
Major David Ascot, retired officer of Regiment 2245 was not a well-liked man. As the head of Table Topics Publishing, he had the opportunity to make many enemies. This never bothered him, he was once hear to remark that he had gone into business to make money not friends.
However, fate eventually caught up with Major Ascot. One Thursday evening, on his way to a pleasant social evening with the friends at the Club, the Major was found dead in the Club parking lot, by Sergeant King. He was found lying face down, in front of his dark green Jaguar, with a butcher knife in his back.
Sergeant King, was a middle aged man with few bad habits. He lived in the area and spent all his spare tending his garden. He was at the Club every Thursday. He usually was the first to arrive and the last to leave. Some thought that he stayed behind to have a drink with the bartender. Last week he planted palm trees in front of the offices of Table Topic Publishing. He told the Major that these trees would never survive the first frost, however the Major paid no attention to this advice. The trees are now dead and the Major has refused to pay.
Kimberley Hair, the perfume buyer. She lived abroad and hunted for just the right fragrance. She loved to travel and first met the Major in Mexico while on one of her many trips. She disliked the Major arrogant manner but loved his money. She convinced him to finance her latest trip to the Fiji Islands. She so loved that Jaguar. The Major was so impressed with Kimberley that he instructed his solicitor to include Kimberley in his will. He was planning to bequeath to her his Jaguar and his Bentlys.
Marion Copper. The bartender. She had written several travel books. Her most popular book was titled "Rwanda, the Soul of Africa". Whenever she found herself short of money, which was more often then not she worked as a bartender at the Club. Marion considered offering her latest script to Table Topics Publishing, but the Major was known to take advantage of young authors. Marian was still bitter about her last experience with the Major.
Miss Valerie Clemest, is the owner of the Club and an expert in the fine art of dining. That evening she was hosting a wine and cheese party in the Club's bar room and had invited several prospects. She was keen to persuade them to invest in her latest scheme. She knew that she must impress the Major with these clients, otherwise he would discontinue her allowance. She promised the Major a deal he could not refuse and had already spent his $20,000 cash advance. She was seen at by the bartender at 6:30 arranging cheese and crackers on trays laid out in front of her.
Dr. George Bay, a Dermatologist had been there a little earlier in the evening delivering a case of fine French Chardonnay. He came every Thursday and was normally early. His shirt was crisp and his jacket was tailored to fit his slender body. The only flaw in the image was the painful- looking black eye that he sported. He had given the Major the wonder cream, but something went wrong. Had the Major used more than he should have?
Professor Robert Maximus. Robert arrived a little late and weary from his long drive. He was president of the Maximus Production Company. He was a whiz at electronics and was instrumental in producing the Majors television interview. Robert, took a bank loan to provide the Major with exactly the right kind of production equipment. The Major had promised him new business, however when Robert drove past the Major's estate to discuss his latest promise, he noticed his own expensive electronic equipment being loaded on a rental truck.
Senator Ben Smith, a politician. Ben was a man of integrity. Ben met the Major many years ago when he was first elected Alderman. The Major was always there to help, always there with whatever Ben needed. He like the Major, but was worried. The major was becoming more and more demanding. Just this morning the Major called to say that he needed to collect on past favors and wanted to meet him for lunch. Ben was busy, however the Major would not take no for an answer.
Noreene Paterson, the shop owner. Noreene owned the dress shop across the street. She saw the green Jaguar, turn the corner and pull into the parking lot. She had seen the car on previous occasions and noticed a confident looking military man getting out. This time she was busy with a customer and had not taken the time to noticed, although she was quite sure that there was some else in the car with the Major. Someone with long hair, perhaps a woman.
Peter Vig, the butcher. His butcher shop was right next door to the Club. The Major was in the butcher shop Wednesday afternoon. He was irritated with Peter and told him that if he wanted a friend then he should buy himself a dog. On Thursday evening Peter was outside his store at 6:30, posting signs for Christmas Turkeys. He'd been busy all afternoon and once the supper hour came he closed the door and sat down facing the window. He looked at the people entering the Club, but never noticed his best customer, the Major.
Staff Sergeant David Aston (The Major's brother-in law)
Detective Doug Francis (Only yesterday investigated a threat against the Major's life)
The Clues
Wig - found in a garbage can in the Club parking lot. Ladies Straw Hat - Found the Jaguar. Butcher Knife - Blood stained found at the scene.
The Murder Mystery will last 30 minutes. The Red light will go on at 25 minutes to give all involved a chance to wrap up in an organized manner.
The cast consists of the Suspect, the Witnesses and the Detectives. The killer knows who he/she is. All other cast members know that they are innocent. The innocent must convince the others of their innocents.
All cast members are under suspicion.
Each detective must ask each suspect and witness at least one question. To permit each cast member to participate, please keep your answers short.
At the end of the 30 minutes we will all vote our choice for the guilty party.
This idea was forwarded to me from First Oakville Toastmasters