Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 1995)
6 Feature/News The Clackamas Print Wednesday, November 29,1995 ‘Get a Clue’ provides mystery, comedy, suspense Photo by Cori Kargel Cast members (back, l.-r.) Bill Barry, Alan Ryman, Christina Knapp, Duane Hall and (front) Tamara Bredemus, David Seitz Cori Kargel Business/Advertising Manager “Get a Clue Murder Myster ies” was in top form at the Eastmoreland Golf Course Res taurant on the evening of Nov. 17. The murder mystery troupe per formed a show full of drama, trag edy, intrigue, adventure, betrayal, suspense and - clowns?! That’s right. The latest mur der mystery presented by the Port- land-area acting company is set during the graduation ceremonies of the 1995 graduating class of the fictional Warren Watson’s Fine School of Clowning. During the ceremonies, which Watson him self hosts, two people are myste riously murdered. The first victim is Wizzo, the clown who graduated first in his class of three. (There were 102 clowns originally enrolled in Watson’s school; however, all but three of them died “accidentally” whilst learning their art). In the middle of Wizzo’s graduation per formance, an unknown person disguised as a clown shoots and kills him. At this point, a private investigator attending the cer emonies, James O’Bond, initiates an investigation of the murder. For a while, things are calm as O’Bond questions various people, including Watson; Binky and Blotto, the other two- gradu ates; Spencer Flashgate, a talent agent looking to hire a clown; Rachel Moss, Wizzo’s beautiful, newly-widowed, shallow, gold- digging, socialite wife; and vari ous audience members. During this time, the audience is served the first course of their meal. As the questioning continues, in staggers Spencer Flashgate, the talent agent, with a knife in his chest. A partial note, beginning: “O’Bond, I know who did it,” is found in his hand. O’Bond again interrogates his suspects, then leaves the room to make a phone call. As he leaves, he admonishes everyone not to leave. Thus, of course, as soon as he is out the door, all the suspects leave. At this time, all audience members are given “clue sheets” and allowed six minutes to find clues, record them and turn them in. During this time, the audi ence finishes their main course and dessert. Once time is up, O’Bond re enters the room and proceeds to review each submitted clue sheet to the audience. “Who’s Guilty" sheets are then passed out, filled out and collected. The person with the correct answers to both “who’s guilty” questions and the “why” question, is recognized and given a reward. The same is done for the person with the most cre ative answer. This is just the barebones, cut-and-dried description of a highly-involved, well-performed, thoroughly enjoyable, interactive entertainment experience. It is nigh unto impossible to pack sev eral hours, dozens of clues and hundreds of laughs into one news paper article. “Get a Clue Murder Myster ies” was co-founded by Christina Knapp (Rachel Moss) and Alan Ryman (Warren Watson). The two previously worked together for another murder mystery com pany. They founded “Get a Clue” with the intention of changing the things they didn’t like and im proving upon the things they did like about interactive murder mysteries. They also try to incor porate the audience more than many other companies. Interactive murder mysteries are gaining popularity, and “Get a Clue” is no different. With few exceptions, the audience was ap preciative of the performance. “It was my first time to come to one,” said audience member Ann Rangos. “It was just incred ibly playful and fun." “I really thoroughly enjoyed it...It was a nice diversion on a yucky night,” commented Terri Lahr, another audience member. Participants liked the combi nation of interactive entertain ment and a well-made dinner (courtesy of the Eastmoreland Restaurant). “I thought it was fun,” said audience member Bernadet Rodakowski. “I like the meal. My meal was good.” The audience isn’t the only group of people that appreciates the lively, improvisational style of the performances. “It’s really fun to improv, with a set group of people,” said Public Safety stresses need to watch after each other CAR THEFT continued from page 1 her car and that it would be safe. She returned in time to see a white male in his early 20’s drive off with her 1990 cherry red Nissan Pathfinder. Her purse, containing money and credit cards, was also lying in the front seat. “For a fleeting moment, I thought it was a trick being pulled by a staff member,” said Baker. “Your car disappears in five seconds. It was a very odd sensation watching your car leave the parking lot,” she added. B aker stated that as soon as “911” was dialed the police im mediately had five squad cars out looking for it. Since it vanished so quickly she thought it may have been taken by some one who lives close by with a garage to pull into. The name of the investigat ing police officer who took the report was Steele, which Baker thought was a cute name in that kind of situation. As of Monday afternoon, Baker said she still had not heard anything at this point as to whether or not it had been found. “Someone saw it as a crime of opportunity,” said Staff Ser geant Dexheimer of CCC Public Safety, who was also looking into the theft. “It’s what we call the five sec ond crime: five seconds and it’s gone,” he added. Chief of Public Safety Jim Wiseman thought the car could be sold for parts, which in some cases could be of more value than the complete automobile. “Some shops are good at changing the VIN (vehicle iden tification number) number, and forging registration. Some are moved to other states. There isa real good market for it in other states like Idaho, Mon tana and Colorado,” he said. “Anytime you have an area where people are and cars are parked, you’re going to have crime. It draws people like a magnet,” said Wiseman. The North Clackamas Aquatic Park and the Oregon In stitute of Technology are in the same area as the Hármóny Cén- * tér' and cióse by• is' Clackamas Town Center. There are sev eral large open area parking lots near the buildings. “There are ... apartments with teens from one parent families that gather at the bas ketball courts at the end of the parking lot. You have a lot of extra time on teens’ hands at night,” Wiseman said. “This area has the second highest crime grid in Clackamas County.” Broken glass from car break-ins littered the parking lot, proving his point. “You leave a camera or a walkman in the car, they smash the window and run. You’re just as defenseless with a car alarm; alarm goes off but so what,” he added. “We’re trying to save people from themselves. You can try to get as much info out as possible on how to protect yourself but it doesn’t always work,” commented Wiseman. “We stil 1 need to watch after each other, which is what it is all about. You can replace a camera but you can’t replace a human being.” Tamara Bredemus (Binky). “You get to know them.” “It’s a lot free-er because it’s improvised,” commented Bill Barry (O’Bond). “It’s a looser script style...No method here.” “I needed something to do Friday nights,” quipped David Seitz (Spencer Flashgate). The interactive, audience-in corporating style of the show is a refreshing, interesting change from being a disassociated ob server of movies, television or tra ditional theater. “We just want people to have something different," Knapp said. “You always have the same- old, same-old.” Ryman compared the perfor mance style to Virtual Reality. “You get dinner, and we don’t use power. You don’t have to reboot.” Come January, “Get a Clue” will be changing its format. The company plans to station itself in an old Victorian house-cum-cafe. The shows themselves will start out more subtly, then get wild when something obvious, such as a death or disappearance, occurs. Knapp commented on the increased surprise factor the new format will allow. “You would know it’s a mur der mystery, but maybe your guest wouldn’t,” she said. “Once gE< a people see someone has died, they’re gonna know it’s not real - hopefully.” Along with its new accom modations, the company will also be performing a new show, as Nov. 17 was one of the last per formances of “A Mime is a Ter rible Thing to Waste.” The new format and show of “Get a Clue” looks to be as enter taining and skillfully-presented as the company’s current perfor mances. With the added draw of a Vic torian-housed cafe as a back ground to the show, “Get a Clue” could easily become a Portland area favorite for an evening of unusual and intriguing entertain ment. In addition, the company is intent on continuing to improve upon many aspects of its presen tation, including audience partici pation and the quality of the pro vided dinner. “Get a Clue” is highly rec ommended to anyone who wants to experience something a little different from the ac cepted entertainment norms available. Bredemus summed up the recommendations best: “It’s re ally fun, and everyone should come and bring two friends.” CiXJe Murder Mysteries, Presents: ÌFsa» A Mime Is A Terrible Thin« To WAStc Bring your date or a whole group of friends fora killer time!! CoK\e4y!! IFsa. ÍTiysi'erYÍÍ Sat, Nov. 11,7 p.m., at Henry Ford’s Restaurant $34.50 includes the show and a complete dinner. Fri., Nov. 17, and Sat, Nov. 25,7 p.m., at Eastmoreland Golf Course Interactive Dinner Theater. Tlckets/lnformatlon: (503) 860-2958 CLACKAMAS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION YOU ARE ELIGIBLE!!!!!! Eligible to join the most convenient financial institution in Clackamas County. We are as close as your phone and as convenient as your nearest ATM. YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR: *Free checking *Free audio response, PC connection and ATM's *VISAat 13.9% APR, no annual fee, 25-day grace period Impressive dividend rates *Lifetime membership *Great member service and much more!! All full-time Clackamas Community College students are eligible to join Clackamas Federal Credit Union. 270 Warner-Milne Rd. Oregon City, Or. 97045 Ph. 656-0671 FAX 655-7658 4400 SE International Way Milwaukie, Or. 97222 Ph. 653-7788 FAX 653-9771 COME JOIN US’!
