Test Your Detective Skills

Murder mystery dinner theatre returns to the Belvidere Mansion to raise funds for the Rogers County Historical Society.

Mixing fact with fiction, “The Apartment House,” a play written by Mark Ogle, will be performed at Claremore’s historical Belvidere Mansion during two upcoming April weekends. The murder mystery begins with a prime rib dinner downstairs at 6 p.m., followed by the play at 7 p.m. in the ballroom. Dates are Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11, as well as Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18.

The play is set in 1946. Financial woes have forced the mansion’s owners to turn it into an apartment house. What secrets does this old mansion hold? Is it haunted? Who is living there? What stories do they have to tell or hide? For one resident, it proves deadly!
“The real Belvidere Mansion was converted into an apartment house in July of 1946,” says Ogle. “Two of the characters in the play are based on real people, my uncle and aunt, Sam and Louise Webb, who as newlyweds were the first apartment residents in the mansion.”
Each person attending will be able to test their detective skills as they try to solve the murder, determine the motive and vie for the coveted Super Sleuth Award.

Directed by Dan Huey, the play boasts a cast of 17, many of whom have performed in previous plays by Ogle, who is known throughout the community for his murder mysteries.
“We’ve done murder mysteries in the past and decided to revive this tradition,” says Kathy Wilken, Belvidere Tea Room manager. “Because of space limitations downstairs, we’re limited to 60 people each night.”

All proceeds from this fundraiser will go into the restoration and preservation of the Belvidere as well as other Rogers County Historical Society projects. The RCHS also supports the Totem Pole Park.

Tickets for the evening are $50 each. Reservations are required. Call Patrick Deaver at (918) 688-0651 or email him at eat0@eau0eav0eaw0. “We are in a transition phase,” says Deaver. “From now on, all ticket reservations for special events must be made through me.” Deaver is the vice-president of the Rogers County Historical Society.

Don’t wait until the murder mystery, however, to check out this historical mansion. The tea room is open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. You’ll find salads, sandwiches, soups and seasonal specials, as well as desserts and specialty teas on the menu. You can also take a tour or shop in the gift shop from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., where you’ll find competitively-priced merchandise from over 50 different vendors, as well as unique hand-picked vintage and antique items. While lunch reservations aren’t required, if your group is larger than six, Wilken recommends calling ahead. “We host church groups, organizations and business meetings and have a private room available for these groups.”

The Belvidere also provides rentals for private parties, including weddings, receptions, bridal and baby showers, family reunions and special event destinations. According to Wilken, over 2,000 people visit the Belvidere each year.  To make a reservation, call the Belvidere at (918) 342-1127. The mansion is located at 121 N. Chickasaw Ave. To find out more about the Belvidere Mansion and upcoming events, check out their website at www.rchs1.org. 

For more information, contact

Belvidere Mansion Murder Mystery  

 

(918) 688-0651

eat0@eau0eav0eaw0