Review: Murder at the Royal

I love a good mystery! Especially in the autumn (and yes, I know autumn officially begins in a few days, but this is "close enough.") I also enjoy mystery programs. In particular, I love cozy mysteries - the kind that make you want to wrap up with a warm blanket and cup of tea. Nothing too scary or gruesome. Murder, She Wrote, Monk, Diagnosis Murder, and cozy mystery books are my favorites! As a fan of the genre, I really enjoy interactive mystery shows. Kansas City is fortunate to have several local performances, and the Mystery Train of Kansas City has become one of my favorites over the years!

My criteria for a fun murder mystery dinner theater experience:

• An interactive experience: this includes opportunities for the audience to try to extract information from suspects, play parts, and/or solve the mystery at the end.
• A script with many plausible suspects and an answer that "makes sense" in the end.
• A story full of humor and fun.

EVEN BETTER if...

• Real information is included in the story (i.e. a historic event or setting). In the case of KC Mystery Train, this means stories set in Kansas City involving local events.
• Clever opportunities for the audience to get involved. In the case of Mystery Train of Kansas City, I LOVE that guests are provided with bribe bucks to entice possible suspects for additional information.
• Audience role-playing. Mystery Train of Kansas City asks each guest for their alias as they board the "train." You play a part all night long! A few members of the audience are even selected for inclusion in the script (no worries - no one is ever pressured to play a part, you may decline if you'd prefer to just watch!).
• The cast never breaks character!
• The food served at the show is delicious!

And the verdict? KC Mystery Train is a blast!

Mystery Train of Kansas City is an interactive Murder Mystery Dinner Theater

Sept. 6 - Oct. 26, 2013: Murder at the Royal Show Synopsis: It’s 1976, and the competition is fierce at The American Royal.  Whether it’s the livestock show, the rodeo, the parade, or just some good barbecue—there’s a lot going on in Kansas City … which may be the perfect cover for a murder!

Ticket Price: $64 includes dinner. Shows are appropriate for teens or adults. Shows are performed at Downtown KC Restaurants (you do not ride a train, but trains are used as the setting of the crime).

Contact: 816.813.9654 

For fans of Clue, this is a fun show! Perfect for a date night, celebration, or group. I would recommend the show to teens and adults. 

Each mystery is performed in a private dining room at a local restaurant (our show was at The Golden Ox, and the food was delicious!!!). The dining room becomes the “stage”… your imaginary dining car as you are a passenger aboard a train heading to or from Kansas City during the production. The mysteries are full of humor and clues, each story written as a piece of historical fiction with Kansas City as the backdrop.

The fun begins as you arrive and are greeted by the Conductor who explains the evening's schedule... it is his job to ensure "the train is on time." And, he provides each guest with money for the trip to bribe suspects for clues. Many of the suspects are carrying luggage, purses, and personal belongings that may conceal weapons or suspicious information... you may use your dough to learn more about them and their possible motives.

As you're seated, you'll be asked your name and given a name tag. Feel free to choose an alias for the night, you can become anything or anyone you want. Adding to the interaction, random audience members are selected to participate in the mystery playing key roles in the story. At this show, I was chosen to play the part of a Country Western singer. It was my first time playing a part and it was great fun! Each audience cast member follows cues in the script to know when to play their role. The scripts are highlighted and laid out simply making them easy to follow. You are also provided with a simple costume (in my case a vest, hat, and purse with clues!), and a bit of secret information you may share with the audience if they entice you with a bit of cash.

The meal is served between each of the four acts, with appetizers, salad, a main dish, and dessert. During these interludes, audience interaction is encouraged and you're able to compare notes with other guests at your table to try to determine the solution to the mystery. They also provide the audience with one clue at the end of each act to help them unravel the puzzle. These clues come in the form of crossword puzzles and word games to figure out pieces of the mystery.

Before the night comes to a close, everyone turns in their answer to the crime, and the solutions are sorted to see if a member of the audience has accurately solved the crime. The Master Detective, who correctly figures out the motive, method, and murderer for the evening is honored at the end of the show with a reward.

The current show, Murder at the Royal, is set in 1976 as passengers are heading to the American Royal. A socialite aboard the train is transporting her prize bull to the rodeo (played by Emali Kimker), a cookbook author is heading to the Royal for barbecue recipes (played by Brie Henderson), a Country Western singer (audience cast member, my role at the show we attended) is hoping to make it big singing at concerts, a married couple is on their way to the Rodeo (audience roles), a cowboy (audience role), a young man (audience role), and a detective (played by Claudia Copping) are traveling to Kansas City. The show incorporated a lot of humor pulling from 1970s song lyrics, puns, and local anecdotes. The murder involved many potential suspects - who does and does not have an alibi? And, do you believe them?

Emali Kimker played two roles as socialite Gabrielle Rathbone and cowgirl Callie Connor. She was fantastic in both parts, playing such a contrast in characters she was believable and fantastic in both roles. Claudia Copping returned to the Mystery Train in her role as Arlene Applegate, a detective. And, Brie Henderson played Edna Potts, a man hungry cookbook author with a way with words - perhaps the funniest role in the show!

Having attended several Mystery Train of Kansas City shows over the years, I think they just keep getting better! The cast works so well together, the costumes were perfect for the time period, and the script left everyone guessing!

If you're looking for a novel idea for your next Moms' Night Out, Date Night, or celebration with your teens... the Mystery Train of Kansas City may just be the ticket.