ast Thursday was Marc's 24th birthday, so I decided to host a murder. Have you ever done one of those? Here's how it works:
You gather a bunch of people together--in this case, eight--for a party. Each person is given a role to play and knows only a bit about himself before attending the party. Costumes are optional but make the game much more fun.
Once the guests arrive, each one is given a little booklet to play the game. On the first page are the rules, which all read aloud. Next, the scene is set so the guests have some idea of where they are and why they've been called to this particular setting. Then each guest silently reads additional information about himself included in the booklet. These are juicy bits of information that are meant for him to either "Reveal" or "Conceal." After the guests introduce themselves and listen to a tape recording of the murder event to which they are now witnesses, there are four rounds during which the guests--and the host, if he's participating--try to discover the murderer. Each person has a motive, and usually an opportunity, which comes out during these rounds. Guests try to conceal the information that incriminates them and reveal information about others to incriminate them. This involves revealing secret clues with additional information. It's all an acting game, throwing yourself into your assigned role and defending your character to the best of your ability, while shamelessly accusing all other guests of vile acts.
We met in ancient Rome, at the home of a renowned poet, and had to figure out which one of us had killed him. It was great fun! Mom made a wonderful meal, and I made and decorated a birthday cake. We all sat down and dove into the game. Part of the fun is that not even the murderer knows he's the murderer until the very end of the game, so each of us could equally be the guilty one. The game was littered with corny jokes and funny jokes alike, and references to modern culture, and we all had a good laugh--especially at the "laurel crown" with which our glorious Caesar adorned himself for the evening. (Oh how I wish I had photos!)
But I can't tell you who the murderer was! Maybe you'll want to play it, too! Check out How to Host a Murder®.
I've played that one! I was the Casanova type.
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