The following is a review for our latest Master Mystery Production, printed with permission from the author.

REVIEW: The Last Garden Party
by Nicole Johnson for The Daily Independent

Dead Bodies and Tea, oh my!

I saw opening night of The Last Garden Party on April 18th at the Presbyterian Church.

The Plot: A Victorian age murder mystery tea where the audience gets to solve the crime of a skeleton found in a croquet lawn. At the estate of the Walliscroft family. Then gentle readers it your job to figure out who done it, how did they do it, and why? It’s great fun to try and solve the mystery.

Fun Fact: This is a revival of the 2016 show, which I also saw and loved. And I still couldn’t figure who did it! But back then, just like now, I had and absolute blast trying to figure it out.

When I got there I was given a program, probably one of the coolest ones I have ever seen, folded out! Shout out to PackWrap for printing such unique programs! And shout out to Daniel Stallings for not only designing these beautiful programs, but he cut them and finished them. The tables where the audience sits were set up as a tea party. We were offered 3 kinds of tea (black tea, lavender chamomile tea, and lemon tea) and were given a plate of tea cakes. These were lemon mini-cupcakes with buttercream frosting and sugared blueberries and chocolate chip mini-muffins with sugared strawberry slices. And they were delicious!

It’s important to note that not only is The Last Garden Party a fun experience, but the actors all looked like they were having as much as we were. The wonderful cast includes: Libby Mitchell as Phoebe Walliscroft, Elise Bechtel as Mia Mallowen, Justin Small as Paul Walliscroft, Samantha Small as Lady Elizabeth Bradfordshire-Pierce, Calvin Johnson as General Major, K. Pearl Woolam as Mrs. Mullet, Allison Mitchell as Eloise, and Janis Kunz as Thomas Hangsby.

One of my very favorite parts was Lady Elizabeth running around saying, “Mush” as if she were being pulled by unseen sled dogs. Not only was it hilarious, but it totally fit with Lady Elizabeth’s character! She was very eccentric, to say the least, and I think I laughed my head off!

The set was absolutely brilliant and truly captured the feeling of being in the Victorian era. Shout out to everyone who worked in tech!

The costume design was beautiful! And the jewelry really fit each character. I really enjoyed that little touch.

The Last Garden Party was written by Daniel Stallings and directed by Devanne Fredette. This is Devanne Fredette’s second time directing a play for Master Mystery Productions.

If you missed opening night, never fear, you have two more chances to catch it while you can. These dates are May 2nd and May 9th. All shows are at Ridgecrest Presbyterian Church on Las Flores. The doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts promptly at 7:30 p.m.

Thank you, Nicole, for your wonderful review! We have only two more performances of this delightful and devious production on May 2nd and May 9th at 7:30 p.m. at Ridgecrest Presbyterian Church (633 W. Las Flores Ave.). Tickets are available at Red Rock Books or online here. You could also scan the QR code on the poster or click the poster on the homepage to be taken to the online ticket seller.

Be sure to grab your tickets before this amazing show disappears. We’d hate to miss you. Because we’re all cordially invited to…The Last Garden Party!

–Master Mystery Productions