by Jeanni Ritchie
The Unusual Suspects, Central Louisiana’s own murder mystery dinner theatre troupe, brings their 20th original production, Welcome to Murder Con, to Tunk’s on May 20 at 7 PM.
We sat down with founder, scriptwriter, and star Dan Forest to learn more about the show.
318: Congratulations! I know writing an entire script is not always easy. How long did it take you to write Welcome to Murder Con?
DF: The original scripts take anywhere from 3-6 weeks to write. Welcome to Murder Con took about a month.
318: I remember when the idea for the show came because you made a post about it. Do you start writing immediately or mull it in your head for a little while first?
DF: The first step is coming up with the concept. Then, I write a clever title.
Originally, I wrote the script on my laptop, in order. One day, I decided to add the OfficeWord app to my phone, so I can write dialogue or funny scenes as they occured to me.
318: Oh, yes! I love my Notes app. If you don’t write it down immediately, you often lose it!
DF: Yes! Then, I put it all together, in sequence, and write any transitional dialogue to get from scene to scene. After first draft, I proofread the script, tweak here and there, and then email it to the cast.
318: Tell me about the show.
DF: This show brings back three characters who appeared in earlier productions. They all work at the fictional TV station KDED. This time, they’re attending their first CON, entitled the MysteryCon. Crazy costumes, eccentric characters, and of course, MURDER is all on the agenda.
318: Who is in the show?
DF: The cast includes Dale dePerrodill as Chad, Kim Patton as Linda, Alecia Lewis as Phoebe, Shelley Jinks Johnson as Tatiana, Dann Eudy as Ricardo, and me as Dane.
318: How do we buy tickets?
DF: Tickets will be available from Tunk’s, where we perform the show. There is also a Facebook event page or you can find a link through our page, Murder Mystery Dinner Theater starring The Unusual Suspects.
318: Tell me more about The Unusual Suspects. When was it founded?
DF: About 25 years ago. We started as a fundraising endeavor for Family Playhouse.
318: Do you write parts for the cast or does the cast audition for the parts?
DF: With this group, I wrote individual roles with the actors in mind.
318: I saw your show last May. You were fabulous! Have you written yourself a juicy part in Welcome to Murder Con?
DF: I love my role of Dane. He’s flamboyant and the perfect foil to the shenanigans that Chad brings.
318: Tell us something about Dan that no one else knows.
DF: I was painfully shy in school until I discovered Speech class. I discovered that not only was I a good speech writer but I could deliver them well. I also competed in interpretive poetry in high school rallies and won Superior statewide!
318: Congrats! Anything else you want to share?
DF: I’m very blessed to be a part of such an amazing group, and love that we bring much needed laughs to an often somber world.
Check out The Unusual Suspects newest dinner murder mystery, Welcome to Murder Con, at Tunk’s on May 20. You will have a gourmet meal and a fabulous time!
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana and frequent murder mystery solver. She credits the late Mary Higgins Clark for this skill! She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
