A MURDER MYSTERY AND SCAVENGER HUNT IN TWO ACTS
It is the height of the Jazz Age, and social revolution is afoot. Furthermore, this is the age of Prohibition - and of bootleggers and gangsters. Club owner Felix Fontano, the son of a successful bootlegger and crime boss - and a successful businessman himself - is throwing this private party for a group of select friends. It is a night of revelry like many other nights of revelry enjoyed by this group of sophisticates, artists and hoodlums......until things go horribly wrong.
Edgar Fitzpatrick, Broadway Producer - Edgar is an up-and-coming Broadway director and producer.
Raymond Reynolds, Artist - Raymond is an old college buddy of Felix's - an artist and something of a dilettante. He comes from old money.
Jefferson Mitchell, Stockbroker. Jefferson is a successful stockbroker working on Wall Street.
Roger Webster, Attorney. Roger is a money-hungry, ambulance-chasing attorney.
Duke Carillo, Track Owner. Duke owns a horse racing track in New Jersey. He's an old friend of the Fontano family.
Poppy Gebhardt, Club Manager. Poppy manages the day-to-day affairs of the club with an iron fist.
Calvin Carpenter, Bartender. Calvin is the bartender at the club. He's cocky and presumptuous. A scoundrel with the ladies.
Ronald Mason, Doctor. Ronald is a physician who has made a lot of money during Prohibition because of his willingness to prescribe medicinal alcohol.
Edith Fontano, Club Owner's Wife. Edith is Felix's wife. Enduring years of his infidelity has left her hardened and cynical.
June Palmetto, Actress. June is a famous actress, a southern belle in the big city.
Judy Jordan, Flapper. Judy Jordan is a popular young woman on the party circuit. She's young, bubbly, and optimistic.
Claudia Mitchell, Writer. Claudia is a well-known author and the wife of stockbroker Jefferson Mitchell.
Gloria Call, Singer. Gloria is a jazz singer hired to perform this evening.
Jacqueline Jacobs, Fashion Designer. Jacqueline is a snobbish fashion designer. She has a boutique catering to young flapper types.
Ella Landeau, Flapper. Ella Landeau is a popular young woman on the party circuit. She's confident and flirtatious.
Bess Bailey, Flapper. Bess Bailey is a popular young woman on the party circuit. She's lighthearted on the outside bu serious underneath.
Holly Olmstead, Tennis Champion. Holly Olmstead is a professional tennis player. She's haughty and competitive.
Win Wallace, Accountant. Win is the accountant for many of the guests. S/he's reserved but knowledgeable.
Elliott Nash, Jazz Pianist. Elliott is a talented jazz pianist who often performs at the club. S/he is cool, calm, and collected.
Charlie Chambers, Jazz Bassist. Charles is a talented jazz bassist who often performs at the club. He is obsessed with all things jazz.
Brett Burgess, Waiter. Brett is a relatively new employee at The Cat's Meow Jazz Club. S/he has hopes of one day making it big on Broadway.
Regan Richards, Waiter. Regan is a relatively new employee at The Cat's Meow Jazz Club. S/he has hopes of one day making it big on Broadway.
Alex Preston, Actor. Alex was once on track to stardom, but alcohol got the better of him/her.
SUGGESTIONS FOR COSTUMES:
General costume ideas, men:
Raymond Reynolds, Artist - Raymond is an old college buddy of Felix's - an artist and something of a dilettante. He comes from old money.
Jefferson Mitchell, Stockbroker. Jefferson is a successful stockbroker working on Wall Street.
Roger Webster, Attorney. Roger is a money-hungry, ambulance-chasing attorney.
Duke Carillo, Track Owner. Duke owns a horse racing track in New Jersey. He's an old friend of the Fontano family.
Poppy Gebhardt, Club Manager. Poppy manages the day-to-day affairs of the club with an iron fist.
Calvin Carpenter, Bartender. Calvin is the bartender at the club. He's cocky and presumptuous. A scoundrel with the ladies.
Ronald Mason, Doctor. Ronald is a physician who has made a lot of money during Prohibition because of his willingness to prescribe medicinal alcohol.
Edith Fontano, Club Owner's Wife. Edith is Felix's wife. Enduring years of his infidelity has left her hardened and cynical.
June Palmetto, Actress. June is a famous actress, a southern belle in the big city.
Judy Jordan, Flapper. Judy Jordan is a popular young woman on the party circuit. She's young, bubbly, and optimistic.
Claudia Mitchell, Writer. Claudia is a well-known author and the wife of stockbroker Jefferson Mitchell.
Gloria Call, Singer. Gloria is a jazz singer hired to perform this evening.
Jacqueline Jacobs, Fashion Designer. Jacqueline is a snobbish fashion designer. She has a boutique catering to young flapper types.
Ella Landeau, Flapper. Ella Landeau is a popular young woman on the party circuit. She's confident and flirtatious.
Bess Bailey, Flapper. Bess Bailey is a popular young woman on the party circuit. She's lighthearted on the outside bu serious underneath.
Holly Olmstead, Tennis Champion. Holly Olmstead is a professional tennis player. She's haughty and competitive.
Win Wallace, Accountant. Win is the accountant for many of the guests. S/he's reserved but knowledgeable.
Elliott Nash, Jazz Pianist. Elliott is a talented jazz pianist who often performs at the club. S/he is cool, calm, and collected.
Charlie Chambers, Jazz Bassist. Charles is a talented jazz bassist who often performs at the club. He is obsessed with all things jazz.
Brett Burgess, Waiter. Brett is a relatively new employee at The Cat's Meow Jazz Club. S/he has hopes of one day making it big on Broadway.
Regan Richards, Waiter. Regan is a relatively new employee at The Cat's Meow Jazz Club. S/he has hopes of one day making it big on Broadway.
Alex Preston, Actor. Alex was once on track to stardom, but alcohol got the better of him/her.
SUGGESTIONS FOR COSTUMES:
General costume ideas, men:
- Suits
- Tuxedos
- Striped sports coat
- Ties
- Hats (top hat, homburg hat, fedora)
- Pants a bit short so that socks show
- Cuffed trousers
- Flapper dresses: loose-fitting, drop waist, knee length or shorter (but not too short) calf length is fine too, uneven or asymmetrical hemlines
- Bare-limb look
- Flesh-colored stockings (to keep bare-limb look); stocking with patterns
- Mary Janes
- Fringe
- Feathers, boas
- Sequins
- Long strings of beads
- Art deco jewelry
- Short hair (for long-haired players, perhaps try a wig or an up-do that simulates shorter hair)
- Cloche hats
- Hair wraps
- Clutch bag
- Long cigarette holders (nonsmokers could use as a prop only)
- Wrap-over coats
- Fur collars