"DEATH OF A VOLUNTEER" MURDER MYSTERY FUNDRAISER

A collaboration between local businesses, the arts and Volunteer & Information Kingston (VIK) takes the stage March 31st, as VIK hosts a 'murder mystery' fund raising event at Memorial Hall at Kingston City Hall. The event is a customized, interactive Host-Party.com mystery game, a scenario where the audience solves the murder of a fictitious "Volunteer of the Year."The mystery game starts during a dessert reception and book signing where the characters begin to drop clues as to the 'murderer.' Actors are The Honourable Peter Milliken, mystery writer Mary Jane Maffini and Carl Richards of CFLY. Local actors include Jamie Schoular, public school principal, Elizabeth Stienberg, of the Upper Canada District School Board, Linda Worsley, Hotel Dieu Hospital, Walter Knott, VIK's board chair and Barbara Bell, an actress most recently featured as Gertrude in Hamlet here in Kingston. Two hundred tickets are on sale now. The 'murder' takes place in 1944 at an awards ceremony honouring a fictitious "Volunteer of the Year." The "obnoxious" Volunteer of the Year is the victim and will be played by Mary Jane Maffini. (Maffini's mystery heroine, Camilla McPhee, is a lobbyist for a non-profit agency in Ottawa.) Mr. Milliken will play the part of the "officious" politician presenting the award. The audience participates and interacts spontaneously to solve the murder mystery. Attendees are encouraged to come 'in period 1940s costume.' There will be a grand door prize, a prize for best costume and the 'best detective' award for whoever identifies the fictional murderer. Book signings will precede the murder mystery and also take place during the dessert reception. Sponsors for the mystery night are As the Plot Thickens Mystery Bookstore; Pan Chancho Bakery; Studio 22; Neil's Flowers; SA Campbell Photography; Fruitalicious.