Embedded Files
Gem*Boy mysteries are audience participation plays in which the audience watches the first act to glean information and motives. Then they become part of the play in the second act by traveling to clue sites (either where the play is staged or to various locations) to interview the cast of characters. After the interview portion of the play, the audience returns to the main stage to see a ten minute act that reveals the murderer.
These plays can serve as a fun way to have audiences tour your building or property or town. Previous productions have toured Bed & Breakfasts, the Hotel Saranac in Saranac Lake, NY and circled Mirror Lake in Lake Placid, NY. They are great fun for get-togethers and can serve as a team-building activity for businesses and groups.
Many of these plays have been produced by a high school and are appropriate for younger groups.
Below are synopsises of scripts available from Gem*Boy Productions.
If you are interested in using one of the plays with your acting troupe or hiring the Gem*Boy Productions please contact me at: Gem*Boy
Plays with asterisk (*) were produced by Lake Placid High School and are more appropriate for a younger cast.
"A Clozed Case: the final exam" © *
Da Fish was just about to give the mysterious MacGuffin Test, but was found dead - some one cut his brake lines. Someone had to be one of the students about to take the exam.
Eleven characters (all could be either gender)
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The stage is set for another wine tasting fundraiser, but there is a little apprehension about who will take the first sip. That is because the last fund raiser there was some wine with a little extra kick --- enough to kill.
A Sporting Chance" © *
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Just as local sporting legend Rats Scalon is to be inducted into the Adirondack Sporting Council's Hall of Fame, a shot rings out. Then four more shots ring out, apparently to make sure the the Hall of Fame induction is posthumous. Now dead, the audience will find Scalon was not so beloved and everyone has a reason to want him dead.
Ten characters (six women, four men)
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When cutlery and cutthroats come together in a kitchen, murder is sure to follow. The fanciest restaurant in all of Lake Placid and maybe even the Olympic Village...all Olympic Villages, has served kings and presidents, now it has served up a, far from appetizing, case of murder.
Eight characters (four women, four men)
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The superhero of Bowowsia is dead and not only is everyone a suspect, but they are fighting over who gets credit. This is because the person who killed "Newtron, the Wonder Newt," will be invited to join the Bowowsia League of Dome (BLOD). Even the 'good guys' are the bad guys and the 'do gooders' are no count pipsqueaks. There are more mad scientists and anti-heros to fill a really, really big --- maybe even giant --- laboratory, each acting as childish as a collider missile. It will take an audience of brave sleuths to solve this murder and fight for justice.
10 characters (five female, five male (some could vary))
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"Board to Death" ©
A theatre group's resident writer has been killed, leaving the board with a dilemma, what to do with his half-finished script. A board that cares little about solving a murder, but a lot about making money and who gets the juicy parts.
Eight characters (five women, one girl and two men)
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"By The Cover" © *
Shortly after checking out her last book of the day, Bibi O'Tec checks out herself, to the big library in the sky. Such is the beginning of "By The Cover." A mysterious chemical was put on her No. 2 pencil - and everyone knew she had the habit of chewing on her pencils. Ms. O'Tec made sure everyone that came into her library had strong skills. Unfortunately for her, anyone who used her library (from the 'Monster Truck Dude' to a librarian wannabe) would be able to probe the vast resources of on line databases available in the library to find the means to implement her death.
10 characters (seven women, three men - some interchangeable)
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"Cat Prints on a Car Hood" © *
A play with a whimsical slant to it, as if it was raining cats and dogs. The actors will be portraying some unusual main characters; those of the feline and K-9 persuasion. There is a little fancy footwork, a little rhyming and a lot of comedy. With a theme, similar to "West Side Story" and actors playing characters akin to "Cats," "Cat Prints on a Car Hood" is sure to be a theatrical delight.
Eight characters (one has to be a male and one a female, the rest can vary)
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It is said that all politics are local, then that means all of the government wanted Travis Rex dead. The departed Mayor of Trout Lake was found dead in a pool of chemicals that were not accidental. Thus is the beginning “Death & Acids.”
Little is know about the murder, but one thing is for sure, it seems everyone in Trout Lake wanted Travis Rex dead and too many people had access to the means. In fact, like the murder weapon - Acids, Travis Rex was referred to as another A-word (arrogant) by everyone who had contact with him.
(Five Characters, three women, two male == one is younger)
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"Dead & Breakfast" ©
The stage is set when five former classmates return to their high school hangout to find out who killed Chris Deets. It is soon apparent that each of the remaining friends had a reason to murder Deets. Deets' death was attributed to natural causes, but then who really believes being electrocuted can be considered natural.
Five characters (three women, two men)
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"Dead Pan" ©
The hotel manager get's whacked with a frying pan and he is dead --- way dead, causing the improv group that rehearses there to start acting up. There are less tips than a land lock canoe when the creative sorts of the group and the working sort of the hotel staff start pointing fingers at each other.
Six characters (four women, two men --- one younger)
"Death by Chocolate" ©
The menu is set, but the chef is dead. And one of the courses of the dinner is a clue...the chef's famous, but secret, dessert. Is it possible someone at the hotel wanted to know the secret recipe of that dessert? Is it possible that the cause of the chef's demise is "Death by Chocolate." Or was the overbearing chef done in because of his other dalliances.
Eight characters (five women, three men)
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“Death of Drama” starts out like all comedy capers, with a murder. The president and main director for all productions of the Antler Lake Community Theatre (ALCT) was found dead, center stage, in bad lighting.
five characters (3 women, two either (one child))
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"Departure" ©
"Departure" proves that murder and intrigue can be fun, at least when all the suspects are clowns. Not your simple minded, good nature variety of clowns, but characters that could as easily twist the neck of the ringmaster...as they could a balloon into a necktie. Now the circus is leaving town, missing one ring leader. To be staged on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad!
Five characters (one man and four women)
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"DOA: Death of Art" ©*
When a 300 pound mobile crashes down on the art teacher, it's not just a movement, it's murder. Art teacher, Autumn Leaves, was examining the latest class project of the advanced art class --- ironically titled "iron butterfly" --- when a wing dropped on her. There was a screw loose and the 'accident' left the art teacher history.
10 characters (five female, five male (some could vary))
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"Goodbye Mr. Smith" © *
Mr. Smith is dead, his wife had insurance on him, the 'Doogie Howser" coroner is just nutty enough to do it, the police department is riddled with inaccuracies in the dame of Frick and Frack and the private investigator has a son who just might have done it. Difficult as that may be, everyone in town is named Smith.
Ten characters (three women, seven men and a saxophone player)
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"Goodbye, Sweet Love" © *
There are many ways to get over a broken heart. Some people cry, others take up drink; many turn to poetry, but some, a cruel few, use murder as revenge.
Seven characters (three women, one girl & three men)
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"Half-Baked Homicide" © *
Times are kind of crazy now that the school counselor has been murdered by one of the students in the 'Adventure Club.' That is the scenario in this year's Lake Placid High School Drama Club's audience participation murder mystery "Half-Baked Homicide". The murder weapon of choice was fruitcake. Ironic, but not ironic (ha ha) if you are trying to figure out who was crazy enough to do in Miss. Deeds. (2008).
Ten characters (six girls, four boys -- a few could be changed)
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"HotBox Murder" © *
Harvey Wallbanger was a rat, A dead rat now. And for a couple of competing researchers, he was going to be their personal lab rat. But as a dead lab rat, he has no value to the researchers or the Mayor who was going to make Harvey the poster boy for his dispensary.
Five Characters (two men, three women - some can interchange)
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"Ice Kapers" ©
The village zoning manager has been found dead with a knife wound in his back. The police chief's prize winning trout has also been stolen and she isn't one bit happy about it. Not since the mayor put on spandex running shorts has there been such a heinous crime and the chief is concerned about the murder too!!
Nine Characters (five women, four men)
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"Just Donuts" © *
The Deer Drop Inn kitchen has burned down, making way for a new Luge run, perhaps that accident was just to convenient and the police send an undercover agent in to solve the crime.
Nine characters (three women, six men)
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"Liquid Ice" © *
A New York Times reporter is found dead and the Village of Lake Placid is dancing? It must be in the water...well that is one of the clues. The reporter was investigating the water treatment plant.
Ten characters (six women, four men)
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Five characters arrive at the estate sale of Mulder Mansion, to bid on items for the estate of Penelope Saver. One of the characters is returning to the scene of the crime. Or now known as "Murder Mansion" the site of Penelope's killing!
five characters (females, some could be played different)
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"Murderer's Lullaby" ©
The air is filled with contempt, greed and deceit. And it has nothing to do with the winter fund raising of the Adirondack Public Radio Station, but it does have a lot to do with the murdered radio host Broadcast Bob Perkins. It is also the plot of the audience participation production of "Murderer's Lullaby."
Six characters (four female, two male)
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"Murderer's Role" ©
The business manager for the band ‘Murderer’s Role’ was found dead over the top of one of the band’s amps. The amp was turned up to 13, but Dirk ‘the demon’ Dastard will eventually be six feet under. Well, that is when the ground unfreezes it is Saranac Lake after all. This leaves time for an audience of detectives to solve the mystery.
Five characters (two female, Three male, some could switch)
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"Playing Dumb" © *
Everyone is looking forward to the new school year....well everyone but Mr. Stone, the school principal who fell off the school building. The school year takes a few quick twist when Mr. Stone's ghosts coerces one of the janitors (the sane one) to help him find his murderer.
Ten characters (two adult women, three girls, five adult men)
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"Shooting Blanks" ©
Who is shooting the blanks? Apparently not everyone, because there is a victim in a pool of demise. This will be the 2003 Winter Carnival Murder Mystery at the Hotel Saranac, Lake Placid Center for the Arts and Adirondack Hotel.
(five women, three men)
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"Slay Ride 2000" ©
The well loved and productive painter, Viola Moody, has been murdered. The art diva was found dead on a trail at the Ecstasy Ranch, apparently after she took the ride of her life. Viola was once a very important thread in the texture of the village, now the fabric of the town has hit a snag. Those who say Viola was well loved, are speaking numerically not with sympathy.
Ten Characters (five women, five men (two should be teenage girls))
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"Smoking Gun" © *
This will be the Lake Placid High School's 10th Annual Murder Mystery (September 26, 2003). Clang clang goes the chain, bang bang goes the gun and dead dead is the victim. A shot rang though the night, now the audience must solve for whom the bell tolls.
seven characters (three women, four men)
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"The Conflict Within" ©
"The Conflict Within" revolves around the fictitious Adirondack Community Theatre and it's board of directors. The writer's pen is almost mightier than his mouth, but his sword as seen better days has he tries to rally the board members to solve the death of the not so beloved board president. This play was staged the summer of 2002 at Lisa G's in Lake Placid, with a ride on theAdirondack Scenic Railroad!
Five characters (Two women, one girl and two men)
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Just before a Psychology Convention there is a murder and the victim is connected to most of the characters: to one doctor he was a patient; the professor stole his thesis; he was having an affair with the divorce therapist; and even animal psychologist is not above the suspicion.
Eight characters (five women and three men)
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Everyone loves Santa, but not everyone loves Diablo Santos, hence he was found with a carving knife in his back Thanksgiving morning. Diablo had played Santa at the various holiday functions for the past 10 years. It seems everyone believed Diablo was the devil of Trout Lake and wanted him dead. This is the setting of the holiday season performance of “The Murder Claus.”
Five Characters (three women, two men, but could be some changes)
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"The Science of Murder" © *
The formula for murder is not an art, it is a science. If you are the victim, it is the hard sciences. And for chemistry teacher Cal O'ree, it is as hard as it gets; found dead in the lab, laid out on the slab. It is a murder that the audience will solve in the mystery comedy "The Science of Murder."
10 characters (six women and four men)
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The Elk's Club Winter Carnival Murder Mystery starts with fable characters telling how the victim died. Thus commences the February production of: "The Story Ending."
It is the start, but the conclusion is one of those characters committed the murder and it is the responsibility of the audience to solve the mystery. Appropriately enough the murder mystery play takes place February 1, 8 & 15, beginning during the aptly themed “Myths and Legends” Saranac Lake Winter Carnival.
five characters (three women, two men but could be some change)
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"The Tattler" © *
Bring on the mystic woman to channel back pirates and hopefully a clue to solve. A play is about to be presented and the announcer/principal is killed before the audience, but where were all the characters when the M.C. was shot?
Eleven characters (four women, seven men and an announcer/victim)
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