Foul play's the thing at Madigan mystery dinner

Published 10.14.2018

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Penn College's Madigan Library hosted its first-ever Murder Mystery Dinner on Friday, serving a delightful meal prepared by the School of Business & Hospitality and spiced with a tongue-in-cheek performance by actors from Williamsport's Community Theatre League. Through interactive improvisation, the cast presented "Murder, Medium Rare," spilling secrets and dropping hints to aid the guests' determination of whodunit.


– Photos by Tom Wilson, writer/editor-PCToday


The homicidal hilarity extended to the mocktails on the menu.

The homicidal hilarity extended to the mocktails on the menu.

Elegant table settings include a Madigan Library bookmark, cast list and a notebook in which to record clues from the crime scene.

Elegant table settings include a Madigan Library bookmark, cast list and a notebook in which to record clues from the crime scene.

Attractively presented door prizes allow several ticket holders to take a piece of Penn College home with them.

Attractively presented door prizes allow several ticket holders to take a piece of Penn College home with them.

Tracey Amey, library director, welcomes the evening's sellout crowd and outlines the entertainment to come.

Tracey Amey, library director, welcomes the evening's sellout crowd and outlines the entertainment to come.

Cookbook author Marjorie Richmond (portrayed by Elaine Pfeil) – whose eventual murder would continue the audience participation – shows off her book,

Cookbook author Marjorie Richmond (portrayed by Elaine Pfeil) – whose eventual murder would continue the audience participation – shows off her book, "A Party to Die For."

A vigilant Det. Joe Carmen (Larry Rhinehart) solicits dinner guests' observations to supplement his investigation.

A vigilant Det. Joe Carmen (Larry Rhinehart) solicits dinner guests' observations to supplement his investigation.

A CTL season pass awaits one lucky winner as director Martena Rogers collects ballots from the amateur sleuths in attendance.

A CTL season pass awaits one lucky winner as director Martena Rogers collects ballots from the amateur sleuths in attendance.

With one murder already on the books, the body count rises during the denouement ...

With one murder already on the books, the body count rises during the denouement ...

The gumshoe displays the murder weapon and a purported forensics report designed to smoke out the guilty party.

The gumshoe displays the murder weapon and a purported forensics report designed to smoke out the guilty party.

Rogers (right) introduces her cast during the curtain call. From left are Tim Hippensteel, Kayleigh Woods, Rhinehart, Lowmiller and Pfeil.

Rogers (right) introduces her cast during the curtain call. From left are Tim Hippensteel, Kayleigh Woods, Rhinehart, Lowmiller and Pfeil.

... in which bumbling waiter Milton Floog (Fred Lowmiller Jr.) is caught red-handed.

... in which bumbling waiter Milton Floog (Fred Lowmiller Jr.) is caught red-handed.

The plot thickens with lost eyewear, arguments (telegraphed via stage whisper for the patrons' benefit) and a not-so-surreptitious kiss.

The plot thickens with lost eyewear, arguments (telegraphed via stage whisper for the patrons' benefit) and a not-so-surreptitious kiss.

And what's a murder-mystery dinner without dinner? Friday's three-course meal included flank steak, lobster-stuffed ravioli and two varieties of cheesecake.

And what's a murder-mystery dinner without dinner? Friday's three-course meal included flank steak, lobster-stuffed ravioli and two varieties of cheesecake.