Murder Mystery Dinner 2009 - Pasta, Passion, & Pistols

I was in charge of hosting the final (?) installment of the murder mystery dinners that my friends Sarah and Allison and I have been doing the last few years. Each of us has taken a turn hosting a dinner around Halloween each year, but now that each of us has had a turn and the fact that X and I have moved out of state, this last one might have been the last time (at least for all of us together). Knowing this I wanted to do something really fun and original for my dinner - I had all the guys play girl parts, and all the girls play guy parts! I had some negative response from a few people at first (mostly from homophobia or people who felt like it was just wrong), but after a little bit of coercion everyone was game! The murder mystery dinners are usually a little corny (you'll notice from the characters names listed below), but we always just have fun with it. So here's how it worked:

The Mystery

The succulent aroma of home-cooked pasta is drifting from New York City's most popular Italian eatery, La Speranza, but something else is heating up in the kitchen . . . cold-blooded murder! Restaurant-owner Pepi Roni has been shot in the back with his own pistol. Tonight his family and friends will gather to pay their respects to poor Pepi, but one of the guests won't be shedding any tears.

The Suspects

Rocco Scarfazzi

Pepi's twin brother, a tough-talking no-nonsense Italian business man. In addition to his vineyards and real estate holdings, it is rumored Rocco is in the 'laundering' business. He had no love for his brother Pepi but his reasons are his own... capische?

Tara Misu

Rocco's vivacious young fiancé. She was just an upstairs maid in Rocco's villa until she swept him off his feet. Now Tara keeps a smile on his face and a firm grip on Rocco's assets. Tara is dressed to kill. She knows the effect she has on men and flaunts her charms shamelessly.

Bo Jolais

Cousin of a cousin of Rocco's, Bo manages the Scarfazzi vineyards. Bo comes from a long line of French wine-makers and no one knows 'ze' grape like Bo. An important man in the Scarfazzi organization .... what could Bo possibly have to whine about.

Mama Rosa

Pepi's grieving widow. For 25 years, Mama Rosa cooked the pasta while Pepi greeted La Sperenza's dinner guests. In all the years they were married, not once did they argue. Had something finally boiled over in Rosa's kitchen?

Angel Roni

Pepi and Rosa's beautiful daughter. It was Pepi's dream that his 'Angel' would marry a good Italian boy, have children and carry on the family traditions. Angel has a few fantasies of her own though and one of them is that hunk, Bo jalais. Mama-mia!

Marco Roni

Pepi and Mama Rosa's only son, Marco was expected to take over the restaurant after his parents retired. Marco hates waiting tables. His goal is to play on a World Cup soccer team but his papa has been keeping him permanently on the bench.

Father Al Fredo

An Italian priest and long-time family friend of the Roni's and the Scarfazzi's. The good priest has heard their confessions and knows their sins.

Clair Voyant

Rosa's best friend and astrology advisor. Clair's talents include an ability to communicate with the spirit world and see into the future.

We had a lot of fun at this dinner. I love doing the murder mystery dinners with this group because a lot of people really get into it and try to act & dress like their character would. If you look online at pictures from other people's murder mystery dinners (like this one, this one, or this one), most of them have just thrown on a dress shirt and called it good. But we go all out! It's a good thing we have DI!

While I won't reveal who the killer was, I will say that I wasn't surprised! One interesting thing I have noticed is that the killers have always been women. The funny thing is that it would've been a man this time had I not swapped male and female parts, but I guess it was just intuition that made me do it! Here's hoping we can do another one of these sometime in the future!