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Horror Holidays and Terror Trips
by Staci Layne Wilson
Edible Red
Herrings
The triumphant return of
Hannibal Lecter to movie screens this year has helped make eating and
horror go hand-in-hand (I'll refrain from the "lady-fingers"
puns) in the minds of entertainment-seekers. Now, I know that if you're
reading this 'zine, you must be at least half as twisted as me, and could
easily nosh sweetbreads while watching Anthony Hopkins' scenery-chewing
performance in Hannibal. But if your loved ones don't necessarily like
his idea of brain food, here's some food for thought -- why not take a
date or the family out for a fun night of dinner theatre?
Where else can you
spend an evening witnessing murders, shootings, suicides, helping solve
crimes, and eating a good meal? (And don't tell me your local inner-city
McDonald's. That is NOT a good meal!) If you enjoy movies like Clue,
Who's Killing The Great Chefs of Europe?, and Murder By Death, mystery
dinner theatre is definitely for you. The murders are tempered with belly
laughs as you fill your belly, and you might even be chosen to
participate while you chew on clues and present your final answer at the
end of the evening -- those who guess correctly often win prizes. Private
mysteries at your home or office are also available , but the price is
murder. The regular dinner at show at the restaurant site is pretty
painless, ranging from $35.00 to $50 per person.
A couple of the more
unusual presentations can be found in the New York area (The Killing
Kompany).
The Killing Kompany,
based on the East Coast, travels from location to location (even on short
cruises), and changes their program often. They conceal a rotating cast
of professional Broadway, TV and film actors among the audience of
diners, and at any time you may wind up part of the plot! And be careful
-"evidence" may be planted on you, making you a suspect.
Imagine yourself at a Mardi Gras party complete with music, dancing, and
cocktails. The mayor of New Orleans is greeting all the guests. Also
present, with a local police officer, is Commander Delacroix from New
Orleans Homicide Division: they are warning audience members to watch out
for Mardi Gras scams - especially one rather eccentric woman who claims
to be a psychic and is reading palms and tarot cards. After the
partygoers dine on their first course of food and the mayor makes an official
greeting, the clairvoyant enters screaming, followed by two state
troopers chasing after her. It appears that the psychic found a bag
containing a severed hand, a stethoscope, some money and a noteÉ the game
is afoot. (or a hand, in this case!)
Contact
Information:
Killing Kompany
(travels mostly in the New York area)
1 888 SHOOT-EM or 212 772-2590
http://www.killingkompany.com/
email Staci Layne
Wilson at: slwilson@fearsmag.com
Staci Layne
Wilson links:
HORROR- http://www.staciwilson.com/fbooks.html
ROMANCE- http://www.staciwilson.com/horses/thedance.html
EQUESTRIAN- http://www.staciwilson.com/horses
Visit my "home
on the Web" http://www.staciwilson.com/
where you can read stories, see fun photos, and check out the coolest
links page ever!!
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