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Sparks Fly at Eddie May Murder Mysteries
Jessica Ruano

This is the most amorous evening of your life. You are about to propose to your significant other over an elegant candlelight dinner, and, from that moment on, you are going to be the happiest two people on earth. As the love of your life accepts your perfect proposal, gun shots blast a few feet away, people in colourful costumes rush around the restaurant, and – inexplicably – someone starts singing showtunes.

Now, that’s what I call romance!

For some strange reason, people love proposing at Ottawa’s Eddie May Murder Mysteries, the longest running producer of dinner theatre in North America. They also love celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, second or third dates, and other special occasions. Eddie May “Crime Minister” Noel Counsil has been with the company for over two decades and still finds it amusing that audience members think this murder-mystery atmosphere ideal for such intimate gatherings.

But this year Eddie May has its own reason to celebrate. The company has been performing entertaining and interactive theatre for 25 years in various venues around Ottawa, including a seventeen year stint at the Marble Works Steak House. While Eddie May’s official new home is at the Velvet Room in the Byward Market, the company still performs occasionally at the National Arts Centre and offers private bookings for performances in your own home.

The Cast: Jordan Hancey & Dee Dee Butters (front) Jody Haucke & Dan Lajoie (middle)
Shawna McSheffrey, Ray Besharah, Rick Kaulbars (back - mostly hidden)

For their silver anniversary celebration, the company stages a murder mystery musical Eddie Get Your Gun, created by Counsil and Dan Lalande. Featuring a number of apparently reformed villains at Detective Eddie May’s retirement party, the show opened May 9 and continues Saturday evenings through the summer. The company also hosts a special Charity Night performance on Friday, May 22 in support of Habitat for Humanity.

Reputed for lively audience interaction and quick-witted improvisation, the local performers featured onstage are constantly surprising, and one show is never the same as another. At any one of these Eddie May performances, spectators enjoy a three-course meal and entertainment by an ensemble of actors, and they have the opportunity to get involved in the action. The audience is encouraged to solve the mystery themselves by tracking the clues, taking notes, and checking the evidence. It is even possible to interrogate the characters as they mingle with the guests during dinner.

This is a unique experience that simply cannot be found in the cinema or in front of the television. Like a hot air balloon ride or a scuba diving excursion, you really have to experience it for yourself. After all, people have proposed marriage at sports games, so why not at a murder mystery performance?

For more information about Eddie May Murder Mysteries, check out www.eddiemay.com or visit the group on Facebook to find out about upcoming events.