Murder Hits A Sour Note

or "amateurs do it for free".

Buenos Aires has a daily newspaper written in English called the Buenos Aires Herald (or 'erold for short). The school gets it every day and I take it home every night. The writing isn't brilliant but it is the news as seen from an Argentine perspective so I knew that the teamsters were boycotting the Chinese-owned supermarkets while everyone else was wondering why there wasn't much milk in their local shop or that the dispute over the building of a pulp mill in Uruguay has reached the World Court (didn't even know that existed before I came here) and that the court has ruled in favour of Uruguay - maybe not earth-shattering news to you but at least it's not USA-centric (is that a word?). One of the things the erold has is a listing section where all sorts of notices are placed and this week one of those things was a production by The Suburban Players. The setting: A Chicago Supper Club. The time: New Years Eve 1955. The problem: MURDER. You may have seen those "Host a Murder" games in your local supermarket/games shop. They were very popular a few years ago (and maybe still are). I hosted one myself when I lived in Charlton and great fun was had by all (or so they told me). Anyway, tonight The Suburban Players put on a performance of "Murder Hits A Sour Note". 25 pesos (dinner included).

A fine evening of entertainment. Obviously it had it's faults (the biggest of which was the music - electric guitars and rock and roll - it would have soooo much better to put on a tape of crooners, a little bit of swing, and have the performers lip synch to it) but the players were enthusiastic, the food was good and the beer was cheap(ish). It dragged a little at times but nowhere near as bad as the St Georges Quiz Night. Too much feedback (insisting people gave their theories even when it was obvious they didn't want to) and the denouncement (to be said in a French accent as de-new-mont) could have been better handled. I initially identified the culprit but changed my mind and got it totally wrong (just as well I'm not a copper). Overall I really enjoyed the evening. It wasn't in BsAs but a smaller town called San Isidro which is only 20 minutes away by train. I've given them my email address so they'll keep me posted on what they are doing.

The whole evening made me nostalgic for my time in AmDram and L (who went with me) and I spent a fair bit of time comparing our experiences. It's unfortunate that The Players aren't more local to me (or me to them) because I'd like to get involved but I guess it's not to be.

No more maudlin sentimentality - I'm off to bed!