Review - A Dinner to Die For

Fancy some comedic chaos, crazy characters and a 3 course meal, spiced with murder and intrigue? Turn off the tele and put that Lean Cuisine back in the freezer then, you need A Dinner to Die For! The Truthbooth sent our bravest actress/reviewer/fancy dresser Naomi Crew along for an evening of hilarity at the Retreat Hotel in Abbotsford. Here's her review...

'Thousands and thousands and thousands of pounds' of fun! A Dinner to Die For was a really enjoyable night hosted by a wonderful cast of charming characters, aside from a few murderous intentions.

On arrival at the Retreat hotel, all dressed up in my flapper dress and head band, I looked around the room at the other guests as they arrived. Some were couples, and others were larger groups of friends, work colleagues and family, all dressed up for the 1928 Christmas dinner party hosted by the cunning Lord Quinten Daventry. Initially I was a little nervous to be dressed in costume and arriving as a solo guest, but the warmth of this beautiful old pub, the staff and the other guests quickly extinguished my nerves.

All the guests had been provided with their character around a month in advance, with ample time to acquire a costume for the evening. Each character had a little story to follow and they offered a few hints as to what you might want to ask and tell other guests, without giving away any big secrets.

My character definitely provided me with an ice breaker: the German Dr Armania Holst, world renowned psychologist following the new wave ideas of Sigmund Freud, therefore obsessed with people’s toilet training history. I can assure you that enquiring after ones toilet training history in a bad German accent will only make you more appealing to those with a good sense of humour.

I was seated opposite the lovely (but common) Pru and Preston Crowmarsh, a rather odd but extremely entertaining local couple who were the founding (and only) members of the local Rabbit Breeding Association (R.B.A). Next to me was the insistent Ivor Ingleton, a casino owner who was on a debt collecting mission to drain Lord Daventry of his estate. The guest playing Scottish Albert Farnsnip did a festive impromptu jig, giving the actors a real run for their money. All the guests around me were so convincing in their roles it was hard to tell who was an actor and who was a guest.

Perhaps this is what made the night such a success… the characters were well thought out and the actors provided each guest with the opportunity to take part in the festivities, by mingling and probing. The opportunity to get really involved in the theatre was afforded to every guest, and the actors were more than willing to allow you to take the stage. Equally though, if you did not feel comfortable playing a bold part you were still able to enjoy the theatre around you whilst playing a quieter role in the event.

The Retreat Hotel was the perfect venue for the evening with loads of old time charm and décor that would make my grandmothers eyes water with jealousy. One guest playing the role of Lord Hargreaves informed me that this was the original set for the pub in The Sullivans - a fitting environment for such a theatrical evening. The food was delicious and themed for Christmas Dinner.

All the actors did a fantastic job in creating a perfect environment for a murder mystery and transporting us back to days of class and sophistication. Special mention to the awkward Miss Fanny and the consistently amusing Miss Gertrude, or Dirty Gerty as one guest referred to her. The rather masculine Nanny Maude took on the role of narrator, creating some mystery and then promptly solving the case with the help of all the guests.

I would recommend this event to anyone wanting to have some fun with a group of friends, or as a solo guest looking to meet new and interesting people. Personally, as a person intrigued by the glamour of the 1920’s, this experience offered me a unique opportunity to have a taste of that feeling for one splendid evening, with a large splash of sexual innuendo and double entendres thrown in for fun!

Find dates and ticket information for A Dinner To Die For on MyTickets.

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