January 28, 2011

Murder mystery dinner theater set for Feb. 11

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Nursery rhyme lore proclaimed Humpty Dumpty the victim of a terrible fall, but the evidence is in and he was pushed from the wall -- yes, murdered!

Find out “who done it” during the Nursery Crimes Murder Mystery Dinner Theater in February at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The audience participation event is set for 7-9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 11, in the Student Center Renaissance Room and everyone is welcome.

Could the villain be the Fairy God Mother who knows all about what happens in the neighborhood? Or perhaps it is Little Red Riding Hood who unbelievably was involved in a sordid love triangle with Humpty Dumpty and the Huntsman, her hero. Or was it instead one of the other not-so-innocent Fairy Tale Land characters like that big gambler, the Queen of Hearts, or the fighting pair of Jack and Jill. The suspects also include the likes of Mandy Muffit and Little Jack Horner.

The evening includes a four-course dinner and a most entertaining and amusing murder mystery production by the Bissell House Players.

The menu for the dinner offers mixed field green salad with parmesan vinaigrette, spring vegetable Florentine pasta, chicken coq au vin, smashed red and gold potatoes and sautéed fresh vegetable medley. Sweeten up the evening with bread pudding with caramel sauce and fresh cut fruit and accompany it with iced tea and coffee.

Tickets are $20 for SIUC students with a valid identification or $30 for the general public. Seating is limited so get your tickets early. No tickets will be available at the door.

Purchase tickets at the Business Office on the second floor of the Student Center between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Or, you can buy them without incurring any additional charge by simply calling 618/453-3478. All ticket sales are non-refundable.

Sponsors of the Nursery Crimes Mystery Dinner Theater are Student Center Special Programs and Center Events and Student Center Dining Services.

For more information, visit the Student Center website at www.siucstudentcenter.org or call 618/453-1142.