Murder Mystery Games Are Back In Mesquite

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

After a year off due to COVID restrictions, Mesquite’s own 25-year organizer of Murder Most Foul dinner mysteries, Marianne Johnstone, is back in action.

The first Murder Mystery for 2021, entitled “The Pizzeria,” was held Friday, April 9 in Johnstone’s Mesquite home. It was a small gathering with a limited number of actors and guests.
Johnstone has been the facilitator of these murder mystery dinner parties since she first moved to Mesquite in 2008.

“My sister gave me a Mystery Dinner party for my 60th birthday, in Salt Like City, and I was hooked,” said Johnstone.

Johnstone is a pro at organizing these amateur parties and handles mishaps and no-shows in stride and with grace.

Johnstone has a collection of props and costumes the actors can use, as well as a collection of mystery scripts.

She said that she loves organizing the gatherings. The dinner parties provide entertainment to both the host and the guests.

“And solving the crime from the clues given engages the thought processes and helps to keep you alert,” Johnstone explained.
The guests agreed that these mystery dinners are great fun.
“My friends and I always enjoy these mystery parties,” said Barbara Cagianese, a regular patron of the parties.

Lynne Rabe, who portrayed the artist character in the mystery said, “We don’t get the script until we start. I think Marianne likes to see us squirm.”

The Pizzeria Mystery played with seven actors. Caroline Pope was Mayor; Lynne Rabe, the Artist; Peggy Hansen, an Ice Cream Maker; Susan Rango a Magazine Editor; Donna Steed, the Restaurant Owner; Ruth Cox, a boxer; and Audri Durrence, the detective.

The most foul murder for that evening was committed in the food pantry of the Pizzeria with a pizza cutter.

“I can even do the same play over and over; it is never the same with all the ad-libbing that goes on,” said Johnstone. “We even have flex scripts now. So even I do not know who the murderer is until the end.”

The Mystery Dinner parties have regular actors who participate and a following that like to attend. New people, actors and attendees are always welcome and appreciated.

Four-year patrons Vivian McDonald and Mike Gill have volunteered their services to take all the photographs for Johnstone. She keeps a photo album of all the plays, and the actors in their costumes.

In the past, Johnstone has held some of the parties at the Mesquite Senior Center. But that facility is still not yet open for gatherings. So Johnson is looking for other venues.

Johnstone charges about $10.00 per person to attended, just enough to cover the food. She hopes to get a location and get more attendees in order to make enough money to purchase microphone equipment, so the actors can be heard better in a larger venue.

If you are interested in joining the fun; either as an actor or patron; call Marianne Johnstone at 702-345-4459.