News and photos

Issue No 32:
15 August 2005

Welcome to our thirty-second PartyChitChat. Just to let you know our news first:

• We have created a "meet and mingle" version for 17 to 30 guests of Poetic Justice.
• We have decided to hold a regular decor prize in addition to our usual photo competition. So if you think your mystery party decorations were special, please send us a photo or two of your decorations and some comments. See decor competition for details.

How we compare to our competitors?

We would like your feedback. Is there something they offer which you wish we offered? Do they provide any extra services? We are always trying to improve our business, so any comments or ideas you have would be appreciated via info@merrimysteries.com.

In this issue, we have articles about:

• Our photo competition winners.

Our photo competition winners

We didn't have many entries this month, so some of our winners are entrants from previous competitions that we felt deserved to win (but didn't first time around because there were too many other great entrants). The 3 winners are:

• Dara Northern (USA) for a photo from her Murder Of The Great Chef party
• Angie Bridgewater (USA) for a photo from her Celebrity Celebrations party
• Cynthia Kesterton (USA) for a photo from her Murder On The Prairie party.

We are commencing a new competition with a closing date of 1 October 2005 (see photos.htm for details).

Dara sent in this feedback about her "Murder Of The Great Chef" party:

"This was our first Murder Mystery Dinner Party and the BEST time ever. We had 21 guest, everyone dressed as their character and better yet, they played the roles. We laughed from the moment everyone arrived until the last person left. We are still laughing and this party was in April.

I am so anxious to host our next (annual) Mystery Dinner Party. Thank you for offering such a delightful and entertaining party plan.

What a blast. I turned our home into the Culinary Institute of America, The costumes were fun and outrageous!

Thanks again for this wonderful idea. Can't wait to do it again!"

Angie Bridgewater sent in this photo of Judy Garland bursting into song at her "Celebrity Celebrations" party – a star is born!

Angie sent in this feedback:

"My name is Angie Bridgewater and I purchased the kit, Celebrity Celebrations. We had this party at a restaurant and actually performed songs (lip synched) It was a blast!!!

This was a Halloween party too.

Thank you,
Angie"

Here is a photo of Martha Cleaver and Fred Cleaver (the butcher and his wife) from Dara's "Murder Of The Great Chef" party:

Here is Cynthia's photo of Red Eye and Spring Leaf from her "Murder On The Prairie" party:

Cynthia sent in this feedback:

"Hello my name is Cynthia Kesterson,

The attachment is called Red Eye and Spring Leaf because those were their character's names in the play. The name of the murder mystery is called "Murder on the Prairie".

I purchased the kit for our Mid Solos singles group for a New Year's Eve Party. We had a great time, everyone really got into character not only with dressing up in costume, but also with improvising and accents, I found out we have some very dramatic people.

The funny thing is that no one guessed who the murder was. I actually gave the prize to Mary the sheriff's wife, she had the most votes from people thinking she did it.

The gentlemen that played Red Eye was the winner for best costume and Spring Leaf was his sweetheart in the play, so I found it fitting to send in this picture, but everyone did a excellent job and it was hard to choose one picture to send in. Our group is already planning on doing another murder mystery and others have heard about how much fun we had and do not want to miss out next time.

Thanks for your creativity and providing the story for us.

Cynthia Kesterson"