Shooting event, show benefit good cause

They say the third time is the charm.

If you’ve missed the first two murder mystery dinners sponsored by the Brianna Gregory Foundation, you might not want to miss the third, scheduled for October 30 at the Best Western at Lake Lucille in Wasilla.

The Brianna Gregory Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of children with life-threatening illnesses. The foundation was started by Neil and Lindy Moss to honor the memory of their daughter, Brianna, who was taken from them by cystic fibrosis in 2003.

Moss is an untiring hunter education instructor in the valley, averaging teaching a course a month, year around. He coaches a youth shotgun team out at Grouse Ridge and is currently looking for interested folks. Neil is also one of the most avid waterfowl hunters I have even met. His wife, Lindy, is secretary of the Upper Susitna Shooters Association and is an avid shooter in her own right.

About a year ago, the first murder mystery fund raising dinner was held at the Mat-Su Resort. It had a Wild West frontier theme and was a great success. The second benefit dinner theme involved pirates and Vikings and was held this past May in conjunction with the first-annual Brianna Gregory Memorial Super Shoot at the Grouse Ridge Shooting Grounds in Wasilla.

It, too, was a bigger success than originally anticipated, raising over $25,000 in one day to support Children’s Hospital at Providence and the fight against cystic fibrosis. Several corporate sponsors have become involved as this fund raising event has grown and developed.

This upcoming murder mystery benefit dinner on October 30th is themed, “Chaos in Camelot.”

If you would rather shoot at flying clay targets than solve a medieval “who done it,” the second-annual Brianna Gregory Memorial Super Shoot is scheduled for May 15, 2010 at the Grouse Ridge Shooting Grounds in Wasilla. The event consists of a registered 100-bird walkthrough sporting clays event for all ages and abilities. Mark that date on your new 2010 calendar and check the website above for more specifics or call 373-0961.

But if you’re up for the show, it involves characters representative of noble families from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

Having lost his only son and heir in the Crusades, King William has ordered his godson and goddaughter to wed, combining the lands of Mortain and Montfort to strengthen the kingdom. He has invited all the noble families from lands far and wide to witness this joyous occasion. However, an evening of betrayal, in addition to the betrothal, develops amongst the feasting and games by the Lords and Ladies, Knights and Knaves.

The cast of characters is quite broad and anyone wanting to attend should be able to find a character to suit their personal preferences. In addition to the numerous nobles and ladies, there are friars, clan chieftains, a court jester and a juggler, various musicians, members of the royal court, gypsies, Templar Knights, and other assorted rogues and knaves. Even a few Turks will be present for the festivities! Some of these characters are kind and goodhearted folks while others are full of treason and treachery. Which are which will only be known to those who attend the dinner!

“Chaos in Camelot” at the Best Western at Lake Lucille begins with cocktails at 5 p.m. The murder mystery begins promptly at 7 pm with dinner served at 7:30 p.m. The dinner menu sounds fabulous with your choice of “Forest Fowl” (honey thyme marinated Cornish game hen) or King’s Quarter of Roast Swine (sage and apple braised pork shoulder). These main entrées will be served with baby redskin rosemary potatoes, yellow squash sautéed in white wine and butter, spring green salad and rustic peasant bread with honey butter. Dessert will be handled in the form of an auction.

Tickets cost $50 each.

Call 373-0961 to purchase tickets and to find out more about available character role information. You can also learn more about specific characters and costuming suggestions by visiting the website: www.briannashope.org. Tickets must be purchased ahead of time — no tickets will be sold at the door.

This third benefit dinner is quite unique in one sense. The first two events used scripts which were already written and available for purchase by a sponsoring group. The “Chaos in Camelot” script was written and developed by Lindy Moss as a labor of love for her daughter. This will be the first time anywhere that this specific storyline will be presented in a murder mystery dinner event.

As I understand the process, the script basically lays out the storyline and identifies each character and how that character fits into the story. The individual participants are given this information but, from then on, basically “wing it” with dialog, specific scenes, and much of the action leading up to trying to solve who committed the actual murder. Virtually all of the characters are suspects and it is up to each dinner guest to figure out the culprit. Those who correctly identify the murderer will receive a certificate suitable for framing as a souvenir of the event.

Quoting Neil and Lindy Moss, “There are no causes more worthy to support than those that seek to offer hope and healing to sick children. With your help we will be able to make a difference in the lives of the children who fight for life everyday. We hope than you will join us at future fundraising events, such as ‘Chaos in Camelot,’ a medieval-era mystery to be held October 30.”

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. You can leave him a message by e-mailing sports@frontiersman.com.