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Fundraiser set for the weekend

FAIRMONT – The first official fundraising event for an accessible playground in Fairmont will be staged Friday and Saturday at the Fairmont Eagles Club. “Eat, Drink and Be Murdered,” a mystery dinner theater show, is being sponsored by the Adventure Playground Task Force and the local MOSS (Many Offerings of Special Support) group.

Kristin Tietje and Jodie Whitmore, who are members of both sponsoring groups, said the idea for the mystery dinner theater was brought up at meetings of both organizations which determined such an event would blend fundraising with an enjoyable evening out.

The show, written by Tony Schwartz and Mary Lou Ambrose of Pennsylvania, depicts the events at Grandma Rose’s 80th birthday party where the feuding McFadden and O’Riley clans gather to honor the family matriarch. The families’ troubled past escalated when Rose O’Riley married Finian McFadden and gave him her family’s secret Irish whiskey recipe. The characters include Rose’s ruthless son who runs the distillery, Rose’s nephew who dreams of taking over the business, a priest with a lot to hide, a bitter old maid sister and Rose’s mysterious nurse.

Tietje said the nine-member cast combines community members and high school students, all with stage experience. Cast members performing the comedy include Shawn Shoen, Lee Shoen, Corey Shoen, Grace Higgins, Grace Miller, Abby Bachenberg, Izzy Munsch, Alec Weir and Eric Head.

“It’s hysterical, absolutely hysterical,” Tietje said.

But the joviality cannot be credited to the amount of “whiskey” consumed by the cast.

“It’s just iced tea,” Whitmore said.

The play relies heavily on audience participation, including a conga line, but there is no requirement to join in. Tietje and Whitmore said the size of the Eagles Club lends itself to a more casual, relaxed atmosphere.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with a social time. In addition to donating the venue, the Eagles Club will be providing a full bar for the evening for those patrons who choose to enjoy an adult beverage during the show. At 6:30 p.m., the show begins, and appetizers will be served. In homage to the play, members of the task force and MOSS will be preparing an authentic Irish meal of bangers and mash, which they translate to mean brats with mashed potatoes and cabbage.

At the end of the play, prizes will be given to the first person who correctly guesses the identity of the murderer and to the individual who comes closest to guessing the motive.

“In order to get all the clues, you have to be paying attention,” Tietje said, adding that the show will be different both nights.

Only 100 tickets per night will be sold. Advance tickets are $45 and are available at HyVee, First Farmers and Merchants Bank, Profinium, the Old Post Office or from any MOSS or Adventure Task Force member. Tickets at the door are $50.

“If we pre-sell all the tickets for both nights, we’ll raise $9,000,” Tietje said, adding that there will be donation envelopes for audience members to give additional contributions to the playground.

All the food for the meal donated, and the Fairmont Opera House has contributed microphones for the cast members to assist in sound projection.

The playground project carries a $450,000 price tag, but donations already have surpassed the halfway mark with $265,000 raised.

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