"Murder on the Loco Lobo"

For the last few years, I've developed some amazing friendships at Atria Senior Living at the Arboretum. I met a lively group of folks who are taking the theatre class taught by my friend Kris.

Over the years, they have performed lots of different kinds of plays. This week, they transformed the venue into the Loco Lobo ranch for their second murder mystery dinner.

I wrote some basic background, assigned a victim and two murderers (for two performances), and they took it from there, fleshing out characters and practicing improvisation skills under Kris's brilliant direction.

The most fun was thinking up goofy character names like Arma Dillow, the "suffering" widow, and Poke R. Tell, the gambler.

Both performances were full as residents came to eat a barbecue dinner and try to figure out who the "murderer" was. There was not a dull moment!

I cannot tell you how much I enjoy these men and women, most of whom are taking theatre for the first time -- or at least for the first time in many years.

Atria residents used clues to try to figure out who the "murderer" was.

Mary Ann, as "Ditzy Dillow," has been in the theatre group from the beginning.

Sally looked the part as Primrose, the schoolteacher with a mysterious past.

Guests got a new clue with each dinner course and worked with tablemates to try to figure out the mystery.

Gerry loved playing Poke R. Tell, a businessman trying to legalize gambling in Texas.