Murder mystery makes madcap mayhem

By Yvonne Johnson, APG NewsJune 17, 2013

Murder mystery makes madcap mayhem
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - The latest whodunit to grace the APG North (Aberdeen) recreation center floor drew plenty of laughs and a whole lot of finger pointing, June 1, as audience members tried to solve the murder mystery.

APG was the latest stop for the Army Entertainment tour of "Murder Two Point Uh-Oh," a Comedy Mystery Dinner Theater written and directed by veteran entertainment consultants Darryl Allara and Ken Freehill.

Nearly 200 guests enjoyed a meal catered by Ruggles Golf Course as well as their roles as "cast" members in the wedding rehearsal setting that turned them into amateur sleuths as they tried to solve the murder that took place before their eyes.

Actual cast members, seated among the guests, alternately exclaimed their innocence while dropping hints along the way as to whodunit. The cast had only four days to learn their roles and adlib lines befitting their characters to pull the event off.

"This diversionary programming is a great stress-reliever for everyone," said Allara. "With only a four-day rehearsal time and no dialogue to learn, almost anyone could take time out from their busy schedule to participate."

Word of the duo's previous dinner theater success at APG brought out a crowd eager to participate and have a good time. Candy Garcia of CERDEC collected the grand prize for solving the mystery. With a retired military husband, Garcia said their military family always tries to support MWR events.

"This is our third year coming [to the shows]," she said. "I usually copy the suspects' answers and then pick the least obvious.

She took home a bag of t-shirts, coffee mugs and other gifts for her efforts.

Joyce Jamison of CECOM-LRC said it was her first show and that she's looking forward to the next one.

"It was very good; very entertaining and funny," she said.

Col. Henry Allen of the 20th Support Command and his wife Arline said they came out to support friends in the show.

"They did a great job," Allen said. "We were really into it."

"I thought it was excellent the way they kept you guessing," Arline Allen added.

Earlene Allen, MWR special events coordinator, expressed her thanks to the cast members.

"They made it happen," she said. "Things like this can't come together without people willing to donate their time and talents. My hat's off to all of them and of course my thanks go out to Darryl and Ken for bringing another winner to APG. "