An afternoon immersive theatrical experience left residents guessing: was it Professor Plum or maybe Ms. Scarlett?
Residents of Pebble Springs Retirement Community teamed up for a building-wide whodunit guessing game based off the 1949 board game “Clue” on Jan. 15.
Naming the mansion where a crime was committed Pebble Springs Manor, the premise for the performance was set by having a projection of a haunted mansion with ghosts and zombies on the screen and playing on the name of the senior living community.
Deb Babcock, Pebble Springs Retirement Community lifestyle director, devised the plan to put on the play for community residents after playing “Clue” with her granddaughters.
Babcock wrote the script before she contacted The Vespian, an ensemble theatrical company based in The Villages, to help the play come to life.
“I have a background in theater script writing,” Babcock said. “In college, I took a lot of drama classes. It is my passion.”
“This is the second play that I’ve written,” she said. “This was the hardest one, because it’s mostly improv. It’s part scavenger hunt and part immersive theater. Using each actor has a clue, residents are able to use guess who did it.”
Bill Kleen, who played the butler and narrator, explained everyone was gathered in the theater at Pebble Springs for the reading of the will for the deceased character Theadore Finch.
Waiting for the will to be read, actors, several of which who are with the with theatrical company, introduced themselves to the audience as those closes to Mr. Finch or his wife Ms. Finch: Kelly Liese, who played Ms Peacock; Una Glasser, who played Ms. Orchid; Ellen Grana, who played Ms. White; Joanna Zurn, who played Mrs. Scarlett; Bill Hodes, who played Professor Plum; Federick Solano, who played Col. Mustard; and Michael Hassett, who played Mr. Green.
The seven characters dispersed to different parts of the building after introductions, including the salad bar, dining room, front hall, lounge, Babcock’s office all on the first floor, a spot on the second floor and third floor.
With secrets lurking in every corner at Pebble Springs Manor, the simple will reading was transformed by a scream from Grana when Finch’s wife is “found murdered outside the theater.”
The doors of the theater opened as residents were released to play detective and discover who committed the crime.
Having an hour on the clock to solve the mystery, participants were given cheat sheets with five clue questions to ask each character, the location where the characters could be found and the murder weapon list.
The first one to correctly solve the mystery would claim the grand prize of 1 million “RLC Cash,” currency used at the retirement community that can be used during the upcoming spring auction.
Hassett, of the Village of Oak Hollow, told actors before the show started that their energy was very important, encouraging them to have a lot of fun.
“Deb is very creative lifestyle coordinator,” Hassett said. “This gives us an opportunity as actors to step out of the box because this is closer to improv. It’s kind of a one and done experience. It’s going to be fun and energetic.”
“I think they will be entertained and have some fun. They will have a list of questions to ask us. It’s mainly about providing entertainment and to get them up and moving,” he said.
Pebble Spings residents, Jean Thomson, Jen Platt and Cherry Skold sat together sharing memories of playing the game “Clue” with their family while waiting for the game to come to life.
The three friends, who often participate in activities together, decided to do things differently with Platt and Skold joining the “Clue Crushers” team and Thomson joining the “Darling Detectives.”
“We do all kinds of stuff together,” Thomson said. “Today, I’m competing against them.”
They all agreed that thought they have all played Clue many times, the experience brought to residents by Babcock was something totally new.
“Our lifestyle director is very talented,” Thomson said. “This was her idea. We get all our information from her.”
Diane and Bob Mahan said the game was a great experience that has helped them get more familiar with parts of the building.
“So far, this has been one of the most fun activities,” Diane said. “We’ve been here seven months and we love it. We try to participate in all the activities they have.”
The Clue Crushers went over their notes right by the crime scene outside the theater after going to all the stops throughout the building.
A rope and green cloth were the deciding factor leading them to guess the killer, Mr. Green.
The first to get the correct answer to Babcock, the Mahan’s, won the 1 million RLC prize.
“It was wonderful,” Diane said. “We were shocked we picked the same people.”
“It was a lot of fun and all the people were very friendly,” Bob said. “They gave us very good clues and answers. It were all great.”
For many, including Tyler Tobin, Mrs. Scarlett was a red herring.
“She was very angry,” Tobin said. “I feel she got wind of the wind and she didn’t feel that she was getting what she deserved. I think she had motive, opportunity and means. I watch a lot of murder mystery as a hobby. I’m a very detailed person and a retired air force veteran.”
After an hour of interacting with residents, Solano, of the Village of Fernandina, said performing for the afternoon gave him a rare chance to do improv.
“You get to create the story as they ask questions,” he said. “Everyday I work to prefect my craft. It is a chance to experience life in the moment.”
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
