'Dead in the Sled' murder mystery in December | Arts & Culture

"Dead in the Sled:  Ho, Ho, Ho...OH NO!" - Comedy Murder Mystery - runs Dec. 3, Dec. 10 and Dec. 17 in Eugene, Florence and Coos Bay.

The play, performed by the Poison Pen Players, was written by Rose Ellen Jacobson and directed by Melanie Heard.

There will be three shows:

Saturday, Dec. 3 at 7 pm at Silvan Ridge Winery (27012 Briggs Hill Road in Eugene)
Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7 pm at Florence Events Center (715 Quince in Florence)
Saturday, Dec. 17 at 7 pm at Red Lion Hotel in Coos Bay (1313 N. Bayshore Dr. in Coos Bay)

Tickets:
$50 at Silvan Ridge ($45 for wine club members)
$45 at Florence Events Center
$42.95 at Red Lion Hotel, Coos Bay

Ticket includes salad, bread, entree, dessert, coffee/tea, a whole lotta laughter, and at least one murder.  Gratuity is included with ticket price. Discounts available for groups of 8 or more.

About the play:

Each year, the Christmas Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts a Community Concert, and awards the coveted yard signs to those displaying the best “Holiday Cheer” at this event. This "friendly" competition each year has just about driven the locals mad with jealousy, conspiracy theories and alliances “to the death” sworn over back fences all over town.  Think you know ho, ho, ho.....whodunnit?  Laughter relieves holiday stress, so come laugh with us!

Cast of Characters:

Nicholas Kringleman:  Owner of Christmas Valley’s only restaurant, “Kringleman’s Deli”, has closed his business, and will be out of town as usual.  His magnificent home overlooking the town sparkles and twinkles beautifully all season long, but sits empty since Nicholas never competes for prizes and always leaves home, only returning after New Year’s. (Played By: David Lauria)

The Dimmer twins, Shimmer and Glimmer:  are up to their typical nasty tricks as the highly anticipated event approaches. When they aren’t busy tearing up the town, they are fighting tooth and nail with each other.  Glimmer has the most cunning and criminal intelligence, but she is insanely jealous of Shimmer, “the pretty one”.  Life, limb, or expensive lawn decor…nothing is safe around these middle school menaces. They have lived with their long suffering uncle Walter since the mysterious death of their parents last Christmas.  (Played By: Debbie Waiss and Mat Alexander Korso)

Walter Winterberry:  Hates Christmas. He is the Postmaster of Christmas Valley, and, as such, is responsible for hand canceling all the cards sent to the town for re-mailing by obsessed Christmas nuts living in non-festive places with names like Death Valley.  Ebenezer Scrooge would be proud to call him a friend. (Played By: David Lauria)

Wanda Winterberry: Walter’s sister, the driving force behind all of the Christmas mania, is in full steamroller mode as usual.  What she lacks in money and taste, she makes up in boundless enthusiasm.  Wanda loves everything about Christmas, and spends the entire year scrounging around for junk she can use to create her “holiday masterpieces”.  She has never won anything, and this fact has nearly driven her crazy. (Played By: Judy Adams)

Holly Garland: Police Chief of Christmas Valley, has a few problems of her own.  She has reluctantly agreed to head up the judging committee this year, against her better judgment.  Her own home isn’t decorated yet because she’s been too busy, and she has been spending most of her time riding herd on the Dimmer twins.  (Played By: Victoria Seitzinger)

Amarillo Snowden: Former ballroom dance champion, and aging gigolo, had some success with the ladies in his younger days, but now he has been reduced to earning money working for the cruise lines as an escort for the lonely, unaccompanied lady passengers.  He returns often to his Christmas Valley apartment with extravagant tales of his visits to the romantic and exotic ports of the world, such as Ensenada, Mexico.  (Played By: Mike Jacobson)